Tour de Headwaters is set for Saturday, rain or shine

September 16, 2015 · 0 Comments

Everyone has heard of the Tour de France, where many cycling legends have taken on the difficult courses and roads of one of the world’s largest biking competitions, but chances are, you’ve never heard of the Tour de Headwaters.

That’s because the Tour de Headwaters is a brand new initiative, with its inaugural event this weekend designed to raise funds to benefit Headwaters Health Care Centre.

The ride will feature multiple routes, and has been described as an all-calibre event that is designed to appeal to participants from Dufferin and Caledon, as well as cycling enthusiasts from the GTA and beyond.

“It’s the most fun you can have on two- wheels,” said Tim Peters, a board member of the Headwaters Health Care Foundation who is serving as event chair. “We’ve gotten support from golfers, runners, and gala-go- ers in the past, but we’ve never had an event geared to cyclists, so we’ve created Tour de Headwaters to further our reach.”

The ride will carry cyclers through the Hills of Headwaters, where the leaves have started to change, creating an even more breath- taking view than usual. The routes consist of a 25km family-friendly trail, a 50 km and a 101.5 km route throughout the area.

With the new expansion on the hospital about to break ground, the next step is the need to obtain medical equipment, which is where the main goal of the Tour de Headwaters comes in.

“Even though we just completed our $16 million Commitment to Care Campaign, the capital equipment needs are always growing” said Christopher Stewart, Foundation chair. “Although we work to get the message out, the general public doesn’t realize that the government does not pay for equipment. Those annual purchases are made through the donations of generous people in our community which in part come from events just like this one.”

Participants in the fundraiser will begin their ride, as well as finish it, at the Lloyd Wilson Centennial Arena in Inglewood. Depending on which route they chose, riders will have the opportunity to cycle through the quaint towns of Erin, Alton and Belfountain, and possibly go as far as the Headwaters Healthcare Centre, which marks the halfway point of the 101.5km route.

Registered participants pay a fee to par- ticipate ($50 for adults, $25 for youth under 17), and are encouraged to collect pledges from friends and family. As part of their registration fee, riders will receive pre-event “fuel-up” snacks, rest stop treats along each of the routes, prizes and a post-ride BBQ at Caledon Hills Cycle in Inglewood. The first 150 people to register will receive a Camel- back water bottle.

Organizers say the event will proceed, “rain or shine.”

For more information about the event, or to register, visit www.hhcfoundation.com or call 519-941-2702 x. 2303.