Darrel Zehr
Darrel joined the Bike Rally in 2000, and the 25th Anniversary Bike Rally is his 23rd as a rider. Furthering his involvement with the Bike Rally, as a member of one of the early Steering Committees, Darrel helped to create the Team Captain roles, which are crucial to the team function and participant support required by all riders.
Darrel’s first real job after college brought him to Toronto from his home town back in Oxford County. Darrel worked for many years for Rubbermaid, now Newell Brands, in both Sales and Marketing roles. Through Darrel’s conviction and through the generosity of his company, he brought Rubbermaid on board as official Bike Rally sponsors, securing the donation of participant bins for all Bike Rallies from then on, until the storage tote business was sold off in 2016.
Darrel’s most meaningful memories of the Rally include being nominated for the David Linton Spirit of the Rally Award and being the recipient of the Danny Nashman Legacy Award in 2018. Both of these namesake gentlemen became heroes of Darrel’s after his meeting them on an early training ride back in 2000. The thought and hard work that the co-founders built into the event in the early years has become their legacy, and Darrel was honoured to be mentioned alongside them.
What stands out most for Darrel is the community of support which exists within the Bike Rally and within PWA.
Everyone is looking out for one another, and there is a unanimous no-one-left-behind attitude. It is because of this support system that we continue to attract new riders and get them engaged to take leadership roles as we pass the baton on to a new generation. PWA sets a great example of what an agency can do for a community as they prove to them that they can dream again.”
Darrel has always been and continues to be a strong advocate for the Bike Rally, tirelessly encouraging people to sign up for what will be a life-changing experience – in every sense of the word.
It is a great week, spent with great people! If someone says they don’t have enough vacation time to give up a week for the rally we encourage them to think otherwise, it will be the best vacation week that they could have ever hope for, it is a vacation for your soul.”
