{"id":63464,"date":"2026-04-01T20:47:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T23:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelaker.ca\/?p=63464"},"modified":"2026-04-01T20:47:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T23:47:49","slug":"big-ride-gears-up-for-p-e-i-with-strong-local-support-and-fundraising-focus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/?p=63464","title":{"rendered":"Big Ride gears up for P.E.I. with strong local support and fundraising focus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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ELMSDALE: <\/strong>Sitting over coffee at Cup of Soul Caf\u00e9 in Elmsdale, Blair Nickerson spoke with enthusiasm about what has quickly become more than just a cycling event, it\u2019s a growing community effort to raise significant funds for cancer research through the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nickerson, an Enfield resident and co-chair of this year\u2019s Big Ride, said his involvement began only last year when he participated for the first time. What he found was something far deeper than a weekend ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt felt like family,\u201d he said, describing a tight-knit group of riders\u2014some of whom have been involved since the event\u2019s early days more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspired by the stories and camaraderie, Nickerson decided to step into a larger role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wanted to get more involved and take something on,\u201d he said. \u201cI had only started cycling two years ago, but this just clicked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A new route, a new challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s Big Ride, scheduled for May 29-31, shifts to Prince Edward Island, where organizers have mapped out an ambitious 300-plus kilometre loop over three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riders will travel from Borden to Brackley Beach, then on to Montague, before looping back via Charlottetown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The route blends scenic trails and quiet country roads, with about 55 per cent on gravel paths and the remainder on low-traffic roads\u2014keeping safety a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe tried to design something that\u2019s challenging but enjoyable,\u201d Nickerson said. \u201cIt\u2019s P.E.I., so you\u2019re getting beautiful views the whole way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daily distances range from roughly 80 to 125 kilometres, making it a true endurance event while still accessible to committed recreational cyclists.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The PEI route. (Submitted photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Building momentum<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With about two months to go, the ride is already seeing strong interest. Approximately 35 riders have signed up, nearly matching last year\u2019s total participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organizers are optimistic that number will continue to climb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe more riders we get, the more funds we can raise,\u201d Nickerson said, noting each participant is required to raise a minimum of $1,000, with many exceeding that target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year alone, Nickerson personally raised over $10,000, while the group collectively brought in close to $150,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A raise of the hand for having fun. (Submitted photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Community effort at its core<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planning the event has been a collaborative effort, with a dedicated committee handling logistics ranging from accommodations to rest stops and meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One highlight of this year\u2019s ride is the strong support from communities along the route. In Montague, organizers have secured use of a local wellness centre for overnight accommodations, helping keep costs down and maximize fundraising impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe goal is raising money for cancer research,\u201d Nickerson said. \u201cSo when a community steps up like that, it makes a big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those seeking more comfort, hotel options are also available, but many riders are embracing the communal experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get involved<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Registration remains open, with details available through the Give to Live organization and \u201cThe Big Ride\u201d <\/a>online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants receive a full weekend package, including accommodations and event support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donations can also be made online through individual rider fundraising pages, making it easy for supporters to contribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More than just a ride<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At its heart, Nickerson says the Big Ride is about connection, bringing people together for a shared cause while promoting health and community spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a chance to get outside, challenge yourself, and support something really meaningful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what makes it special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With momentum building and strong local representation, this year\u2019s Big Ride looks poised to make an even bigger impact\u2014both on the road and in the fight against cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ELMSDALE: Sitting over coffee at Cup of Soul Caf\u00e9 in Elmsdale, Blair Nickerson spoke with enthusiasm about what has quickly become more than just a cycling event, it\u2019s a growing community effort to raise significant funds for cancer research through the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute. Nickerson, an Enfield resident and co-chair of this year\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":63467,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[10677,10678,10679,10680,76,2223,10681,48,1321,10682],"class_list":["post-63464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","tag-beatrice-hunter-cancer-research-institute","tag-big-ride-for-cancer","tag-borden","tag-brackley-beach","tag-cancer","tag-charlottetown","tag-montague","tag-n-s","tag-pei","tag-the-big-ride"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=63464"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63464\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/63467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=63464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=63464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=63464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}