Bike Rally Origins
In the fall of 1998, my neighbor and friend, David Linton and I were chatting outside our homes. I was talking about a recent conversation with some friends from the US who had just completed the AIDS LifeCycle in California and my desire to bring something like that to Toronto. David, who was the treasurer of PWA at the time, was talking about some of their financial challenges and how they needed to find new ways to raise money to support an ever-growing client base. That one conversation got us both thinking – and with that, the seeds of what is now the Bike Rally were sown.
In the early weeks of planning we spent a lot of time exploring route and logistical options and trying to gauge interest from people who might participate. We spent weeks planning possible routes, talking up the possible event with friends and having early meetings with PWA to explore their interest in the event. Lori Edmiston, the ED at the time, did not hesitate for a moment. She decided to take the risk of bringing this to life with us.
Our first year was kind of wild! We had no idea if we would actually be able to do this while keeping 23 riders safe and raising a significant amount of money. We had an amazingly small but committed crew anchored by Thomas Egdorf who led all the support roles out of one van and one truck. We had no route markings and no cell phones. Needless to say, getting lost was a daily occurrence. Every day was a new adventure and when we arrived in Montreal, it was magical. We had no idea that we could actually reach our goal. Over 600km and $48,000 later we did it!
That first year was incredibly special. The group that embarked on this amazing adventure bonded in ways we could have never known. When David and I came up with the name “Friends for Life” we thought it was catchy – friends who were supporting the lives of others, perfect! What we did not know was how truly transformative this experience could be, living up to a promise of making friends for life.
Thank you to everyone who has kept the magical spirit of the Bike Rally alive for 25 years. From friends who supported us right from inception, to the intrepid first year riders and crew, the long chain of leaders who have kept the spirit of the Bike Rally alive and growing year after year, and the people who have been attracted to be part of this event through its 25 iterations, it has been an extraordinary ride. Thank you to PWA for believing in us and for being a focal point serving our community for over 35 years, and to David Linton whose spirit is alive and well in the fabric of everything that is Friends for Life.
- Danny Nashman, Co-Founder
