I am riding for...

The Ride for Myriam is an annual long-distance bicycle ride undertaken by Randstad staff throughout North America. The Ride honors Myriam Laaouan, a colleague that lost her battle with cancer. This year over 30 riders from throughout North America will cycle from Boston to Montreal over 4 days - a journey of 630km (378 miles). All funds raised go to the Princess Margaret Foundation or the American Cancer Society depending on where the funds were raised.

I was asked to complete this sentence on Friday. Easy, I write a goofy amount of emails a day. One sentence. No problem. As a sales consultant I am often well prepared to respond quickly and with confidence. This question, though, carried such weight.

My mother is my primary source of motivation and the main reason that I signed up for the Ride for Myriam. She was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer in 2017. Due to the efforts of researchers worldwide, she received top-level care and was declared cancer-free after a relatively short round of radiation. Not everyone is this lucky but I will forever be thankful for the time and effort that healthcare professionals dedicate to ensuring that the scales continue to tip in favor of ensuring increased quality of life for anyone that has, or will receive, a diagnosis.

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As I thought about this question further, I realized that statistically, I'm also doing it for either my wife or myself.

It's scary and uncomfortable but in 2017, 81 000 Canadians lost their battle with cancer. That's enough people to fill the Centre Bell, home of the Montreal Canadiens and the largest NHL arena in the league, nearly 4 times.

1 in 2 Canadians will receive a diagnosis in their lifetime.

1 in 4 will lose their battle.

I'm riding for a future where the number of mothers, wives, husbands, fathers, children and siblings that survive and lead meaningful lives after a diagnosis continues to climb while the number of new diagnoses continues to fall.

I'm riding for you.

To learn more about this initiative or to donate visit:

Source: Canadian Cancer Statistics Publication

The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation