Vancouver Island rider gears up to cycle 400 kilometres for charity

Doug Watson prepares to ride in Great Cycle Challenge Canada

Vancouver Island rider gears up to cycle 400 kilometres for charity Published 7:30 am Friday, July 17, 2026 Parksville resident Doug Watson is planning to ride 400 kilometres and raise $5,000 during the month of August for The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in support of its 10th annual Great Cycle Challenge Canada. Founded in 2016, Great Cycle Challenge Canada has grown to become one of the biggest cycling events in the country, according to a news release. “This is the fifth time I have participated in Great Cycle Challenge,” Watson said.

“During those years, I rode 2,147 kilometres and raised $24,243. This year, I am aiming to raise $5,000 and ride 400 kilometres.” In just nine years, more than 150,000 riders from all provinces and territories have ridden 27.9 million kilometres, raising more than $54 million for research, care and the development of better treatments and cures for childhood cancer.

This year, SickKids Foundation hopes more than 10,000 riders will take part to support of kids’ cancer. “Cancer is the largest killer of Canadian children from disease and over 1,700 Canadian children are diagnosed with cancer every year,” said Angela Rose, Associate Director of Event Marketing at SickKids Foundation. “Thanks to riders like Doug, we’re fueling groundbreaking research to save lives and give kids the brighter future they deserve.”

For more information or to make a donation, visit GreatCycleChallenge.ca/Riders/DougWatson. To participate, go to GreatCycleChallenge.ca. The challenge encourages cyclists across Canada to challenge themselves and set their own personal riding goal throughout August to fight children’s cancer.

Established in 1972, SickKids Foundation raises funds on behalf of the Hospital for Sick Children and is the largest charitable funder of child health research, learning and care in Canada. RELATED: Funds raised to purchase new bus for SOS program participants