THUNDER BAY -- A big bike is riding through the region for a big cause this week and has already collected $53,000.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike event will see 60 regional teams participate, riding the icon bicycle around Confederation College to raise money for research.
Mimi Zugic, Heart and Stroke Foundation area coordination for Thunder Bay and Northwest Ontario, said this year, the goal is to raise $130,000 to help support lifesaving research with the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
The $53,000 raised Wednesday was the Big Bike’s first day. The donations raised help provide a healthier Canadian health system for those who have heart disease and stroke.
“Last year, for myself having lost both my husband and mother, it’s my personal passion to be able to go forward to make a difference in others’ lives by trying to make it a better place.” Zugic said.
“Having the fundraising come into place we are able to offer families longer, happier and healthier lives together.”
So far, donations have created 165,000 survivors through different programs and procedures patients have undergone.
Heart disease knows no age and no boundaries, locally, six-year-old Elizabeth was born with half a heart.
The fundraising has allowed Elizabeth to undergo three procedures to help her survive.
“It amazes me continuously the big hearts that Thunder Bay has. How the Big Bike teams have come together and how they’ve pulled together and raised the money.”
The first team kicked off the 24th annual Big Bike event Wednesday morning.
