Craig Campbell

Day Six

Day 6, my final day, riding from Barrie to Toronto.

It is a day that starts with mixed emotion, only a few days ago I was being introduced to mainly strangers, now I am sad to be leaving friends.

We wake up early and find the weather still to be brisk. It is a busy morning, lots of action this morning as we prepare for the big ride into Toronto. I am greeted by some of Feddy’s loyal entourage of supporters. Dave and daughter Kealey are always their for the Fedosoff’s.

My teammates in RV1A get the day started with an impromptu dance party in the parking lot, warming up and setting the mood to some Black Eyed Peas, World Champion Skier Kate Pace, riding for nephew Alex, who lost his battle a few years ago, coaches us on our rhythm!

We proudly roll out under police escort and snake our way through Barrie, it takes all Carlo and I have to offer to ascend the climbs west of Highway 400. 8% grade is not easy for the Mark and Josh on the tandem.

We lead a good pace on the way to Nobelton, when my rear wheel goes into a wobble. I have lost a spoke in my full carbon rear wheel. No replacement parts our available. The wheel will not survive if I continue. Some collaboration, and our trusty mechanic Jack finds the solution. In the RV I go, and at 80km per hour, bouncing from one side to another, Jack builds a new wheel for me and has me back on the road in under 20km. Jack is another example of the massive volunteer effort it takes to support this ride. Thanks again to all.

I get on the wheels of some riders out for the day as alumni national riders, the next 20km is at a 44km pace and is exhilarating.

Sherway Gardens is our lunch spot, and we are welcomed by more riders, fellow Domestiques and National Ride Alumnus David Wilson and David Morland are out for support. Thanks guys!

Carlo and I have the honor of leading out Josh and Mark, and a few hundred other riders as we roll gently under full police escort to our final stop of the day, Yonge Dundas Square. I finally find friend Calvin McDonald, the newly appointed President and CEO of Sears (the presenting sponsor). Calvin rides upfront with Josh and is kept quite entertained.

As we head north on Yonge St., the crowds grow, the energy builds. We made our final turn into the large crowd at Dundas Square and I had the final opportunity to thank Josh for allowing me this wonderful experience and for his friendship.

I am delighted to see and embrace Samantha, Victoria, Julianne and Baby William. A pat on the back, from best friend Kevin feel’s great. Kealey has a banner out for Team Feddy, teammates Ron Mitchell, Brad King and Ian Struthers join the celebration. I have the distinct honor of handing over the rock, so carefully chosen by Ron, to Ian. My job is complete.

My week has been an incredible opportunity to learn, to reflect, to challenge, and to grow.

I want to thank all of the riders for digging deep and working hard to fulfill your mission to help make our destination: Beyond Cancer.

To the volunteers for so selflessly giving of yourselves and your time.

The families and the patients who are suffering from, coping with or recovering from this terrible disease.

To Ron Mitchell for galvanizing Team Feddy

To Jeff Rushton for your vision, your passion and your dedication

To my donors, for your hard earned dollars and your tremendous generosity.

My wife Samantha, for all the sacrifices she makes for me each and every day!

And Lastly, Adam Fedosoff, and his family and friends for reinforcing to me what is important in life, and what bravery is all about!

Fuck You Cancer!

Day Five

Wawa, Ontario - feels like a brisk January morning. 6am wake up call, today is colder than yesterday. SNKCR would be better if it was a summer event.

We convoy out to Spanish, Ontario. Another Sears outpost, another selfless volunteer to greet us and serve us. Our dedication today is for a young lady who lost her battle. Her family speak of the 1000 Bravery Beads that decorate there house. A bravery bead represents a “procedure”, everything from a blood transfusion to a transplant to a chemotherapy treatment. A Thousand… It isn’t fair. I am overwhelmed.

Today we ride for her!

A brisk day of the rolling hills in Northern Ontario. We experience beautiful sun and cold rain.

During our stop in Espanola we are treated to much deserved warmth and Pizza. I use the time (and cell signal)to check my BB. A post is sent from Lorraine Fedesoff, Adams mom. After nine months in hospital, 180 days after his second Bone Marrow transplant, and countless other statistics the Fedesoffs are going home with Adam, once again!

We all cheer and take energy from this amazing news! Tomorrow I will ride for Feddy!

The afternoon fly’s by as we ride from Espanola to Sudbury. We continue to ride as one united team, today I continue to manage the back and lend a hand when it is needed. And we needed it!

Warm welcome from Sears, dinner, hot showers at goodlife fitness and we are off again, we depart Barrie to Toronto tomorrow. My last leg of this incredible journey.

We enjoy our time off the bike, a few drinks, some spontaneous sing a longs and even a dance party or two… We have a lot of fun! But we do tell stories to each other and learn from each perspective. Sherri, a sickkids nurse, who decided to do this ride to inspire Adam and others tells me more of the things we can do to improve the quality of care. Adam, Josh and Sherri all offer slight variations on the same theme… Communication. Doctor to Patient, Nurse to Parent, hospital to hospital, you name it, we can raise the bar on it! Not to be read as a slight, rather a call to action. We don’t need the millions this event will raise to improve communication.

Time for bed now, past midnight, another Sears parking lot to call home…

Tomorrow, I ride for Feddy!!!

Day Four

540am - it is somewhere in the red on the mercury. Wind is howling, back doors of the trailer have been clanging and banging all night. Who wants to ride this morning… A mad rush for the Sears store, if the volunteers weren’t so warm and bright we would all be in a much meaner mood. This marks the halfway mark for those making the entire trek, I am now wishing I had signed up for the whole thing!

Many layers are on, double pants, double gloves and we roll out before the sun rises.  A brisk 16km with a Police escort we arrive at the Terry Fox Memorial. We lead out Josh and Mark on the tandem, what a feeling! As we walk towards the memorial which is perched high and prominent on the Canadian Shield looking west and surrounded by the majesty of the best and most beautiful of what our countries landscape has to offer, we are all immediately overwhelmed with emotion.  We think of his journey, we reflect on our own, and the journeys of those we ride for! It hits me the hardest as I watch the embrace of Josh and his family. So many emotions swirling… Childhood Cancer effects every member of a family, each of their lives changed forever, the journey last a life time! I am honored to be given the chance to observe and learn from this incredible family.

We roll again, as traces of snow can be detected, very cold, heavy winds, and lots of climbing to do today. Lunch is found about 70km in to our day, warm soup and we all seek cover inside the RV’s, I now know you can fit 16 riders and four volunteer’s in a 28’ RV. I am not feeling great, Erin and Erin our team Mom’s quickly get some juice and electrolytes. I think about staying in the warmth of the van, then I think about Feddy - I am riding… (F@#k You Cancer!!)

I am glad I did, I pulled the group for about 20km, my Clydesdale Physique makes me a popular member of Team One. We stop for a rest stop and Team Captain Carlo’s ask me to move to the back of the peloton and help.  For the next 20km I help some new riders who are struggling with the pace. I work harder than I ever have, I push riders up long climbs - I feel amazing, I feel strong, but most of all I feel I am completing and contributing to my clubs ethos “Cyclist Who Serve”. I am paying back all those helping hands I have got over the years! (Thank You - Hock, Howard, Buckley’s, Stetna and many other’s). I am truly a Domestique now!

Day Three

A short sleep in Atikokan, Ontario, was rudely interrupted by our wake up call.

Who knew it would be so much fun to wake in the back of a trailer to a fedora wearing volunteer named rich play disco music. Problem is, it is barely above freezing.

Morning dedications are read, and I well up thinking about the young girl named Crystal. Cancer attacked her, and she won the fight, but not before it took her leg. Despite all, she is still moving along towards her goals of helping others by gaining employment in the Pharma area. She is works for Sickkids on the patient’s council.

When I asked Josh what change would be most effective at Sickkids? His answer was consistent with Crystals… Speak more directly and transparently with kids about there treatment. As a father, I totally understand the desire to shelter your kids even in the most grave of circumstances. But the message is loud and clear, even at preteen ages, kids are far beyond where we think they are.

We got the ride under way. Cold it was, but we soon forgot as we were basking under the beautiful sun as we rolled through the ups and downs of the Canadian Shield. Today, will be a day I long remember as one of my best days ever on a bike. I felt strong, I felt free and alive. Fast pace, great descents, and best of all the team work and camaraderie. Most memorable was pulling the tandem (Mark and Josh) through a stretch were just the two bikes broke away from the peleton as we climbed and then descended at speeds in the high 60’s…

A few glasses of wine in celebration as we enter the second stage of the country. Ready for bed now, will sleep well as I continue to recount all of the days highs!

Day Two

Well my first day of riding is in the books. A 150.1 KM’s from Winnipeg to Falcon Lake. First Day of cold and overcast weather for the group, but I can be blamed for everything. 16 amazing people rolled out this morning, while we got about 20km of great tail wind, we did hit the wall and had to work hard as a group to complete, missing our first stop, made the 112km to lunch a long ride.

A great day to get to know the other riders, hear their stories about why they joined this crazy adventure, and to spend time with Josh - a 17 year old, 8 year cancer survivor who is riding a tandem bike with his sherpa Mark. We take turns pulling the tandem or helping push when needed. Josh shows his appreciation by keeping us amused!

Riders are awesome, Volunteers even better! So happy to be on this journey!

Day One

1144pm, settling into Chateau SHL. As in my bunk bed in the back of a 53’ tractor trailer.

Day one, kissed my beautiful family good bye, feeling emotional all day… Why do I try to convince myself that this is “paying it forward”, as if this good deed might keep my family safe. Cancer does not discriminate, it doesn’t care.

I arrived in Winnipeg and met a few partners at the baggage claim. Bonded over a beer and arrived at the Sears at Polo Park to meet the rest of the team. We were introduced and got a welcoming applause. Accepted as a part of the family and haven’t yet rode a kilometer.

Said goodbye to my dear friend Ron, and received a rock, carefully selected from the Pacific Ocean that I will carry with care until handed off to Ian. Ultimate destination - Atlantic Ocean.

We talk about the man who inspires us, Adam Fedosoff - I am riding for Team Feddy, can’t wait to see him in Toronto.

A visit to Winnipeg Children’s Hospital further reinforces the reason we are all here. Strangers a few hours, or a few days before, immediately bonded. I slowly make my rounds meeting people, hearing fascinating stories. Riders and Volunteers, no difference, all here to try and do a little bit more.

I want to Thank them for allowing me to join their journey, first pedal stroke in a few short hours…

Good night!