THE RIDE has run its last race.

After 10 years and more than $14 million raised—a large chunk by members of the construction industry—The Ottawa Hospital Foundation has ended THE RIDE fundraiser.

Shelley McLean, marketing office with The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, explains that although the event continued to enjoy great participation and raised significant funds year after year, organizers felt it was time for a new approach.

“Events have lifecycles,” she says. “THE RIDE was a great event for 10 years, and we felt it was important to end on a high note. We’re sad that it’s ending, of course. But we are deeply grateful to everyone who helped us along this great journey: participants, donors and volunteers.”

What’s next?

Don’t look for another RIDE-like event next summer, says McLean. The foundation plans to take a year break to go back to plan another signature fundraising event for 2021.

“The wheels are in motion,” she says. “We will engage planners, stakeholders and sponsors in the early part of 2020 to arrive at a new event that will once again bring the community together in support of The Ottawa Hospital. We’re excited to bring news of this new experience to the community!”

“We remain committed to hosting a signature event that will engage our entire community,” says The Ottawa Hospital Foundation president and CEO Tim Kluke. “We saw that with THE RIDE, and we look forward to bringing a new fundraising experience to support The Ottawa Hospital.”

Construction cares

Planning for that event will almost certainly involve input from Robert Merkley, Claude Des Rosiers and Roger Greenberg—the three men who helped bring THE RIDE to Ottawa, and who are key figures in Ottawa’s construction industry.

Since they helped launch THE RIDE, the men have been passionate supporters of the event, and have encouraged enthusiastic participation and from among countless figures across the local industry. It is estimated that teams from the local construction industry have raised more than 30 percent of the $14 million raised through THE RIDE in its 10 years.

“We’re truly grateful to the Ottawa construction industry and the impact it’s had on THE RIDE since day one,” says Kluke. “It started with the vision of Robert Merkley, Roger Greenberg and Claude Des Rosiers and it grew into the most successful single-day cycling fundraiser in eastern Ontario. From John DeVries and the Ottawa Construction Association to title sponsorship from Mattamy Homes, we thankful for the support this sector has shown The Ottawa Hospital. We look forward to continuing that relationship in the future.”

Countless lives changed

In an email to RIDE participants announcing the conclusion of the event, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation listed a number of important initiatives that riders and donors helped make possible through the annual fundraiser. These include:

• Completing a ground-breaking clinical trial showing that stem cell transplantation, coupled with strong chemotherapy, can halt MS in its tracks and allow repair. The Ottawa Hospital has treated more than 100 people with highly active MS and other autoimmune diseases from across Canada.

• Launching a national research network for cancer immunotherapy and biotherapeutics. This network has fueled ground-breaking research on CAR-T cells, cancer-fighting viruses and much more.

• Launching the Rethinking Clinical Trials program to compare commonly-used treatments and approaches for cancer. More than 2,500 patients have participated in this innovative program and results are improving lives around the world.

• Finding a way to prevent life-threatening blood clots in people with cancer. This study was ranked as one of the most influential recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

• Expanding the Ottawa Methods Centre—a one-stop-shop for helping researchers at The Ottawa Hospital design, conduct, and share the results of their research. The centre has played a crucial role in hundreds of projects that are saving lives and improving health.

• Becoming one of the top hospitals in Canada for attracting competitive, peer-reviewed research funding, ranking third with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.