GUELPH/ERAMOSA – Rockwood resident Matthew Huber will be embarking on his 10th year cycling 220km in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer, a two-day fundraising event for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
Huber will join thousands of cyclists riding from Toronto to Niagara Falls on June 11 and 12.
“Doing this for 10 years is kind of my way to pay it back or pay it forward for Princess Margaret,” Huber said.
He first signed up for the ride in 2013 for his wife Yvonne, who had cancerous cells removed from her cervix and 60 per cent of her liver removed due to precancerous lesions.
Yvonne needed imaging equipment available only at Princess Margaret to accurately see her liver – equipment the facility was able to buy because of fundraising events like the ride, Huber explained.
This year Huber joined Magna International’s team and so far its 22 members have surpassed their goal of $77,500, raising over $94,000 as of June 2.
Huber has completed the ride as a solo fundraiser eight of his ten years, having also been a part of the Steam Whistle team one year and now Magna International, which he said he chose because of his job.
“I work at Chrysler and Magna is one of our huge supplier plants and I said ‘you know what? I don’t even know anybody on the team, what the heck, I’m going to join their team,’” he explained.
Those who participate in the ride for five years get a gold helmet. With this being his 10th year, Huber will be awarded a platinum helmet.
Riders who have had or are battling cancer can choose to ride with a yellow flag on their bike.
“This really makes a huge visual impact not only seeing all of the riders on the road, but also when they are parked on the McMaster football field and you can see all of the yellow flags on the bikes,” Huber said.
When riders sign up for the fundraising event, they can ask to direct their fundraising efforts to a particular cancer or to all cancers.
This year Huber chose to raise funds for blood cancers in memory of Celia Roberts, his wife’s aunt, who lost her battle with blood cancer in December.
Each rider must raise a minimum of $2,500 to partake in the event, so Huber has raised more than $20,000 for the cause.
“Over the 10 years, I actually have found that I have someone to ride for every single year,” Huber said.
“It started off with my wife the first year and then my uncle Brian passed away from cancer in 2019.”
He explained his uncle “had about a six-year battle with cancer.
“My wife’s aunt, this year I dedicated the ride to her. So I always find that there’s someone that I have to ride for.”
“It means everything,” Huber said of being able to take part in the ride and show his support each year.
Working on a three-shift rotation, Huber said this may be his last year participating in the event, though he hasn’t decided yet.
“It’s very hard to train and fundraise and do all this kind of work,” he explained. “But I think going forward, I’ll probably still volunteer for the ride.
“They always need tons of volunteers to make a massive event like this happen.”
To donate to Huber’s ride, visit supportthepmcf.ca/ui/Ride22/p/MatthewHuber.
For more information on the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer, visit ride2conquer.ca.
