CORNWALL, Ontario – Troy Blackadder of Cornwall has cycled at least 30 km every day during October in honour of a friend, family member or acquaintance who has survived or passed away from breast cancer.
Blackadder, who is the President of Cornwall Cycle Club, dusted off his vintage, 1984 Peugot bike and decided to get it dipped in pink dye in honour of breast cancer awareness. Another shop did turquoise colored lettering and handle bars in honour of ovarian cancer awareness.
“I got the idea in 2015, right after my wife had been through breast and ovarian cancer,” he said. “I had decided that during breast cancer month of that year, I would take it out here and there as an awareness ride for breast cancer.”
This year, Blackadder approached his cycling awareness venture with a plan. He decided to ride every day and dedicate every ride to a different person who is either in remission, battling or has passed away of breast cancer. Before and after every ride, Blackadder makes a post on social media to further spread awareness amongst his following.
“There have been some tough days,” said Blackadder. “Windy, cold, raining mornings, to beautiful sunny days. They’ve all been for a purpose. I find by posting the rides the night before I do them, it gives me the energy to ride for that person.”
As an avid cyclist, Blackadder said he may cycle upwards of 10,000 km a year. Blackadder aims to cycle over 30 km before work and averages a speed of 25 km per hour on his vintage bike.
Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 24, Blackadder has cycled approximately 1,132 kms. According to Google Maps, this is almost the equivalent of cycling from Cornwall to Chicago, IL. On a few occasions, friends from the Cornwall Cycle Club have joined Blackadder on his daily rides.
“There have been a lot of emotion in all of those kms…I think about what my wife has been through, what we have been through,” said Blackadder.
