The Ride to Conquer Cancer

Updated on Oct 30, 2023

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The Ride to Conquer Cancer is an annual charity fundraiser held in various locations across Canada and Australia. It is organized as a non-competitive cycling event that sees thousands of riders travel over 200 kilometres (120 mi) over two days. It was first held in the Toronto area in 2008 and raised $14 million for the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Following the success of the first ride, the event spread to Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver beginning in 2009, and to Brisbane in 2011. In the four Canadian events in 2016, 10,000 riders raised almost $40 million making it the number one Peer to Peer fundraising brand in Canada for the third year in a row.

Organization

The Ride to Conquer Cancer was created in 2008 as a "mega-event" fundraiser in support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. Differing from other fundraisers, the event focused on having a relatively small number of participants raise considerably more money in support of cancer research. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $2,500 in order to ride. The event was a success, raising $14 million for the hospital and spawning three more rides in other locations across the country for 2009. It has quickly grown to become the largest cycling fundraiser in Canadian history, raising $155 million between 2008 and 2016 (in Ontario).

Canada

The title sponsor for three of the four Canadian events is Enbridge, and between 2008 and 2015, the Ride has raised over $309 million across Canada. In British Columbia the title sponsor is mining company Silver Wheaton.

The Ontario ride originates in Toronto and travels 200+km down to Niagara Falls. In 2017, it will be the 10 year anniversary Ride in Ontario which is garnering a lot of enthusiasm from past, present and future Riders. In 2016, 4253 Riders raised $17.5 Million for Princess Margaret. In 2015, the Ontario Ride raised $19.033 million with 4853 Riders. In 2014, 5,212 riders raised $20 million in support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is recognized as one of the top 5 Cancer research centres in the world: http://www.thepmcf.ca/Our-Impact/Top-5-Cancer-Research-Centre Funds raised from the Ride help fund research that benefits all Canadians and people around the world.

The British Columbia ride originates in Vancouver, and crosses into the United States to finish in Seattle. Nearly 2,642 riders raised $10.4 million in 2013 in support of the B.C. Cancer Foundation.

The Alberta ride originates at Spruce Meadows in Calgary and heads southwest to Chain Lakes Provincial Park in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains before returning to Calgary. 1,655 riders raised $7.5 million in support of the Alberta Cancer Foundation in 2013.

The Quebec ride originates at Montreal and finishes in Quebec City and supports Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. 1,778 riders raised $6.3 million in 2013.

Australia

The event went international in 2011, as The Rio Tinto Ride to Conquer Cancer took place in Brisbane in August 2011 and 2012. The event has raised nearly $10 million for cancer research at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, one of the largest research institutes in Australia.

Rides also now take place annually in Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne.

In 2013, the Brisbane ride, sponsored by Rio Tinto, had 1,236 participating riders, raising $4.2 million for QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. The ride originated from Brisbane, breaking in Lake Wivenhoe, and returning to Brisbane.

The Melbourne ride originated from Victoria in 2013. 1,223 participating riders raised $4.3 million for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

The Perth ride, sponsored by Sunsuper, had 1,336 riders in 2013, raising $5.2 million for Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (formerly Western Australian Institute for Medical Research).

The Sydney ride, sponsored by Sunsuper, had 1,034 participating riders in 2013, raising $4.1 million for the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse.