Don Ross
- National: 87th
- Province: 43rd in ON
I'm Riding For
In Memory of Griff Bell & in honour of Heather Ross
As I ride each day , indoors in winter & outdoors spring to fall, it will be with the memory of 6 year old Griffin Bell from Ottawa ( June 26, 2017 - March 18, 2024 ) in my heart along with my inspirational partner Heather who I've been grateful to be married to for 45 years. She continues to set an amazing example for all our family and anyone who knows her with how she lives her life each and every day. She’s managed all the challenges of breast cancer since 1999 and Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer since 2011 in a dignified way that gives great hope and cheer to others. Her toughness is beyond measure and there is no quit in her character. These are the same qualities that Griff Bell displayed during his short life & other young children bring out in themselves as they manage their cancer treatments with their loving families always at their sides. Griff Bell was a bright light of joy to all who knew him during his life here on Earth and we’ll never stop fighting for children like him! #GriffinMyHeart #RidingForHeather #FightLikeaKid
My Story
This will be my 7th year taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer! Why? Because right now, over 1,700 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, and it's the biggest killer of children from disease in Canada. 3 young lives are lost every week like the brave young boy who rides with me in my heart , 6 year old Griffin Bell from Ottawa ( June 26, 2017 - March 18, 2024 ) . Every 2 minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer around the world. My wife & I sometimes see these young children when we are at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre & Toronto Western where she's been receiving ongoing care for Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. We’re so grateful for the life saving research being done there and for the care & treatment she receives at UHN in Toronto & at BGH Oncology in Belleville. Hospitals like Toronto Sick Kids and CHEO in Ottawa are doing incredible work with children dealing with cancer. As any parent or grandparent like us would say.....all kids should be living life, not fighting for it . So I'm raising funds through my challenge to ride each day all year long to help these kids and support Sick Kids Foundation . This helps them continue their work in developing treatments and finding a cure for childhood cancer. Please support me by making a donation to give these brave kids the brighter futures they deserve.Your support will change little lives. Thank you so much! #GriffinMyHeartForever #RidingForHeather #FightLikeAKid
My Legacy
-
1,562 km Ridden$1,541 Raised2018
-
1,698 km Ridden$2,846 Raised2019
-
2,456 km RiddenRaised2020
-
2,434 km Ridden$4,509 Raised2021
-
2,010 km Ridden$3,594 Raised2022
-
2,135 km Ridden$8,370 Raised2023
My Challenge
-
30.0 km ride - Milford to Cherry Valley to Miller Rd to #17 to Milford - Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Logged this ride 20 hours ago -
24.0 km ride - Milford to end of Cty rd 17 and back - Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Logged this ride 2 days ago -
48.0 km ride - Milford via Cherry Valley to Lakeshore Lodge sandbanks and back - Monday, September 16, 2024
Logged this ride 3 days ago -
30.0 km ride - Milford to end of Morrison Pt rd via South Bay and back same way - Saturday, September 14, 2024
Logged this ride 5 days ago -
24.0 km ride - Indoor trainer - Friday, September 13, 2024
Logged this ride 6 days ago -
40.0 km ride - Milford to Lake on the Mt and back - Thursday, September 12, 2024
Logged this ride 7 days ago -
36.0 km ride - Milford to Picton downtown via Base 31 then back via Cty Rd 17 - Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Logged this ride 8 days ago -
70 KM Birthday ride
10 Sep 2024Perfect conditions today for my annual “ ride my age “ trek.
Posted 8 days ago -
70.0 km ride - Milford to Salmon Pt lighthouse to Lakeshore Lodge to Shebas Island then back - Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Logged this ride 9 days ago -
24.0 km ride - Indoor trainer - Monday, September 9, 2024
Logged this ride 10 days ago -
24.0 km ride - Indoor trainer - Sunday, September 8, 2024
Logged this ride 11 days ago -
28.0 km ride - Milford to Little Bluff and back - Saturday, September 7, 2024
Logged this ride 12 days ago -
24.0 km ride - Indoor trainer - Friday, September 6, 2024
Logged this ride 12 days ago -
Some stats about this years fundraiser
6 Sep 2024The average GCC rider pedaled 177 km throughout August.
Your collective kilometres ridden would lap the circumference of the earth 59 times!
Over 79,006 donations have been made to fight kids' cancer!
25 riders pedaled over 2,000 kilometres for their challenge.
9-year legacy rider Will Prentice dedicated his challenge to Eric, a young man he coached for many years who was diagnosed with cancer aged 18, and passed away at just 24 years old. Will rode 1,553 km and raised $1,084 to honor Eric's memory.
The leaderboards have been viewed 57,276 times.
31 riders raised more than $10,000 to fight kids' cancer, becoming challenge All-Stars.
Sophia Shankar pulled off a stunning first-time GCC effort, riding 1,004 km and raising $14,745 in memory of her beloved nephew, Jonah, who bravely fought a brain tumour.
Father-daughter duo, Srinivasa and Shreya, combined forces to ride 204 km and raise $3,446 in memory of their mother and grandmother (respectively) who passed away from liver cancer last year.
The average donation made to sponsor a rider was $90.
The Together We Ride team returned for its 4th year of fundraising as a collective and took out the top spot on the team leaderboard once again - the 34 members rode 17,307 km and raised $101,642! Truly epic. 🙌
Members of our Facebook group GCC Friends Canada shared 2,762 posts and made 15,289 comments!
32 kids under 5 years old took on the challenge to kick cancer's butt for other kids.
The website has been viewed 1,798,715 times in 181 countries.
We've received countless messages from families impacted by cancer, thanking you for your incredible support.
2,142 riders raised $1,000+ and became members of the Peloton Club.
Jonah van Voorst beat childhood cancer, after being diagnosed at just 3 years old, and took on the challenge this year to help other kids facing the same battle he did - riding 115 km and raising $1,731.
5,852 riders achieved the 'DEFENDER' Impact Level in the challenge.
Riders from Newfoundland and Labrador raised an average of $754 - the highest average in the country.
3,522 riders completed their 2nd Great Cycle Challenge to continue their personal legacy to kick cancer's butt.
Our top fundraiser is the 9-time GCC legend Jarrod Russell, a cancer survivor himself, who raised a mind boggling $35,372 - taking him to an all-time total of $269,508 raised to fight kids' cancer! 🤯
775 riders have survived their own personal fight against cancer.
The 10 members of Team Addy rode 1,346 km and raised $19,578 to carry on Addison's cancer-fighting legacy - GCC ambassador Addison passed away just 2 days after her 14th birthday, after a brave battle with angiosarcoma. A powerful tribute to an amazing young woman. ❤️
This year we've posted 54 times on our Facebook page and received 215,571 likes, comments and shares.
Maegan Black took on her 9th GCC, and this time... it was personal. She was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer late last year, which only made her more determined to ride for kids fighting cancer. Maegan clocked 118 km and raised $4,752 to save little lives.
5,164 riders took part in the challenge in memory of a loved one affected by cancer. 💓
4-year legacy rider Richard Goodnough rode 281 km and raised $4,907 in memory of his mother, Katharine. He was joined by a super special sidekick this year - his 10-year-old granddaughter, Avalon!
205 riders joined us for their 9th year in a row, riding with us since the very first GCC in 2016.
Together, we've pedaled for the equivalent of 297,597 days, 12 hours, and 20 minutes.
Alex Ross took on the challenge for the 5th year to help other kids fighting cancer, riding 301 km and raising $1,595. Two of his friends have battled cancer, and he's had his own cancer scare, so he's seen just how terrible the disease is.
Over the 9 years of GCC, we've ridden 24,440,055 km and raised $53,922,994 to fight kids' cancer!
Posted 12 days ago -
40.0 km ride - Milford to Waupoos Marina via Cty rd 17-13 then back via South Bay route - Thursday, September 5, 2024
Logged this ride 14 days ago -
36.0 km ride - Milford to Pt Petre lighthouse and back via Cty Rd 17 & 24 - Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Logged this ride 15 days ago -
38.0 km ride - Milford to Cherry valley to log cabin pt rd and back - Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Logged this ride 16 days ago -
26.0 km ride - Milford to base 31 and back - Monday, September 2, 2024
Logged this ride 17 days ago -
36.0 km ride - Milford to Base 31 then down & up hill to Cty Rd 10 then back home via Cty Rd 17 - Sunday, September 1, 2024
Logged this ride 18 days ago -
Keeping on keeping on……
31 Aug 2024Finished August with 1038 km which puts me at 5710 km along my virtual riding across 🇨🇦 for these past 8 mths. Should have no troubles finishing off the 7200+ km journey by end of the year and will keep raising funds and awareness about childhood cancer along the way. #griffinmyheartforever #childhoodcancerawarenessmonth
Posted 18 days ago -
Great Cycle Challenge ends TODAY...
31 Aug 2024“It's the final day... let's finish strong!
Great Cycle Challenge ends TODAY...
And togethern we've ridden 2,217,000 km and raised $6,980,115 so far to end childhood cancer and save little lives.
But we're not done yet. 😊
Your support will give our kids the strength to keep fighting and the hope that new treatments and a cure will be found for this terrible disease.
So stand with us now and take ONE FINAL ACTION to give these kids hope for a cancer-free future!
Because it's the final day of the challenge and one of the biggest days for fundraising...
So let's make it count.”
To those who have supported my fundraising effort this year I sincerely thank you. I’ve exceeded my $5000 goal in raising $6212 so far and reached my 1000 KM goal. I’ll continue riding each day all year long and the GCC site remains open for further donations during the month of Sept, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Www.greatcyclechallenge.ca/riders/donross #griffinmyheartforever
Posted 18 days ago -
28.0 km ride - Milford to end of Morrison Pt rd via South Bay and back - Saturday, August 31, 2024
Logged this ride 19 days ago -
24.0 km ride - Indoor trainer - Saturday, August 31, 2024
Logged this ride 19 days ago -
40.0 km ride - Milford to Base 31 to Picton via old Milford rd then back via Cty rd 17 and South Bay - Friday, August 30, 2024
Logged this ride 20 days ago -
38.0 km ride - Milford to end of Cty Rd 17 then back to Cherry Valley then Milford - Thursday, August 29, 2024
Logged this ride 21 days ago -
44.0 km ride - Milford to Lake on the Mt to Picton to Milford - Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Logged this ride 22 days ago -
Final Week of the Challenge
28 Aug 2024“As you get out for these final days of the challenge, our buddy Nori wanted to pass on a special message...
"Let's bring it home."
Nori was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma in January 2021.
Since her diagnosis, she has endured major surgery, bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy.
Nori has a long road ahead of her, but she will KICK CANCER'S BUTT! 💪
Nori should be living life, not fighting for it.” #griffinmyheartforever
Posted 22 days ago -
50.0 km ride - Milford to lakeshore lodge via Cty Rds 10 & 11 then back via Cty rd 18 and 10 to Milford - Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Logged this ride 23 days ago -
24.0 km ride - Indoor trainer - Monday, August 26, 2024
Logged this ride 24 days ago -
24.0 km ride - Bloomfield to Wellington boat launch via Millenium trail then back via Hwy 33 - Monday, August 26, 2024
Logged this ride 24 days ago -
36.0 km ride - Indoor trainer - Sunday, August 18, 2024
Logged this ride 32 days ago -
48.0 km ride - Indoor trainer - Saturday, August 17, 2024
Logged this ride 33 days ago -
36.0 km ride - Milford to Base 31 then down both hills and back via Cty Rd 17 - Friday, August 16, 2024
Logged this ride 34 days ago -
Kick Cancer’s Butt Day Results
15 Aug 2024I have some exciting news...
Kick Cancer's Butt Day raised a record-breaking $1,939,643 to fight kids' cancer... INCREDIBLE!
It's amazing. THANK YOU so much for your butt-kicking efforts to give kids like Leena, Nolan, Iris, Nori, Hallie-Lyn, Jasper and Sadie and the brighter futures they deserve.
It was a MASSIVE day. We asked YOU to take action, and you KICKED CANCER'S BUTT! 💪
You've given these families a reason to smile, and more importantly, you've given them hope for a cancer-free future and the support they need to continue their fight to beat this awful disease.
For that Don, I cannot thank you enough.
As you know, our wonderful supporters, the Garron Family were personally matching donations up to $1,300,000...
And as outlined when we announced this amazing pledge, if we were to reach the $1,300,000 limit we'd distribute the matched donations across all your pages, based on a percentage of what you raised over the one day of Kick Cancer's Butt Day. This is the fairest way to ensure that everyone who made the effort, gets the reward. 😊
But unfortunately, this does mean that we can't match all donations completely, so you'll receive a portion of the $1,300,000 based on the total you raised. I'll explain the calculation...
$1,300,000 / $1,939,643 = 67.02% - so we've matched 67.02% of the total you raised on Kick Cancer's Butt Day and added this to your fundraising page.
This is the fairest way to ensure EVERYONE is rewarded for their efforts to kick cancer's butt. I wish we could match every single donation but the response was just so incredible.
Posted 35 days ago -
28.0 km ride - Milford to end of Cty rd 17 and back - Thursday, August 15, 2024
Logged this ride 35 days ago -
$2,500 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $2,500 to fight kids' cancer and achieved SUPERHERO LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 35 days ago -
$2,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $2,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved LEGEND LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 35 days ago -
48.0 km ride - Milford to Lakeshore Lodge at sandbanks then back - Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Logged this ride 36 days ago -
Past the 500km mark now
13 Aug 2024Making good headway towards the 1000 km so far. #griffinmyheartforever #fightlikeakid
Posted 36 days ago -
48.0 km ride - Milford to Lakeshore Lodge at sandbanks then back - Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Logged this ride 37 days ago -
24.0 km ride - Indoor trainer - Monday, August 12, 2024
Logged this ride 38 days ago -
28.0 km ride - Milford to Cherry Valley to Miller Rd to Cty Rd 17 to Milford - Monday, August 12, 2024
Logged this ride 38 days ago -
Progress Report
11 Aug 2024#griffinmyheartforever
Posted 38 days ago -
36.0 km ride - Indoor Trainer - Sunday, August 11, 2024
Logged this ride 39 days ago -
Kick Cancer’s Butt Day Aug 14th
10 Aug 2024Here’s some very exciting news...This Wednesday ( August 14th ) is Kick Cancer's Butt Day! 💪 On Kick Cancer's Butt Day, the Garron Family has generously pledged to MATCH ALL DONATIONS received that day, up to $1,300,000! Once again, we're asking ALL riders to unite this Wednesday (August 14) and take action to give cancer the butt-kicking it deserves. Why? Because over 1,700 Canadian children are diagnosed with cancer every year, and 4 kids sadly die every week. Cancer has been hurting our kids and their families for too long. It's time to rise up and show cancer who's boss!
https://www.greatcyclechallenge.ca/riders/donross #griffinmyheartforever
Posted 39 days ago -
42.0 km ride - Milford to end of Cty rd 17 then to Black River & end of Morrison pt rd then to South Bay & milford - Saturday, August 10, 2024
Logged this ride 40 days ago -
48.0 km ride - Indoor trainer - Friday, August 9, 2024
Logged this ride 41 days ago -
24.0 km ride - Indoor trainer - Thursday, August 8, 2024
Logged this ride 42 days ago -
48.0 km ride - Milford to lake on the Mt to Hwy 33 to Picton to milford - Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Logged this ride 43 days ago -
Hit 25% of distance goal
6 Aug 2024Good first week of riding so on track for my 1000 km goal. #griffinmyheartforever
Posted 43 days ago -
58.0 km ride - Milford to Lakeshore Lodge Sandbanks + end of salmon pt rd and back to milford - Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Logged this ride 44 days ago -
12.0 km ride - Indoor ytainer - Monday, August 5, 2024
Logged this ride 45 days ago -
36.0 km ride - Milford to Mitchell’s x-rd to Cty rd 13 & 8 to Bradley x-rd then back - Monday, August 5, 2024
Logged this ride 45 days ago -
54.0 km ride - Milford to long point harbour and back - Sunday, August 4, 2024
Logged this ride 46 days ago -
48.0 km ride - Milford to Base 31 then down both hills and back via Cty Rd 8 to Black River & South Bay then... - Saturday, August 3, 2024
Logged this ride 47 days ago -
28.0 km ride - Milford to Black River to WiloLea Lane to South Bay to milford - Friday, August 2, 2024
Logged this ride 48 days ago -
36.0 km ride - Milford to Cherry Valley to Miller Rd to Cty Rd 17 to Milford - Thursday, August 1, 2024
Logged this ride 49 days ago -
1000 KM Quest begins
31 Jul 2024My 4672 km of training rides in 2024 have prepared me well for my 1000 km goal for the month that begins August 1st. I’m $1000 towards my $5000 target of funds raised and I appreciate all the support. #Griffinmyheartforever
Posted 49 days ago -
$1.5 Million
30 Jul 2024We've just reached $1.5 MILLION to kick cancer's butt - WOOHOO! 🥳
Our buddy Jasper made this sign to celebrate this AWESOME milestone.
Jasper was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in June 2023, just after his 8th birthday. 😢
He has endured chemotherapy, lumbar punctures and weekly hospital visits.
Thankfully, he has been responding well to treatment, and he has BIG plans for his future.
But for now, he has one goal... to kick cancer’s butt! ✊
Please put your hands together to celebrate this awesome milestone and let's keep raising funds to give kids like Jasper the brighter futures they deserve! 👏
Jasper, we're riding for YOU next month! 🍁
Posted 50 days ago -
$1,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $1,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved WARRIOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 62 days ago -
Meet Nori
11 Jul 20249-year-old Nori is our official PROTECTOR level ambassador.
In January 2021, Nori was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. 💔
Since her diagnosis, this brave young lady has endured intensive chemotherapy, major surgery, bone marrow transplants, radiation, immunotherapy and more.
At one point, Nori thought she was finally finished with her treatment, but unfortunately her cancer returned.
Her treatment journey is still far from over, but recent scans indicate that the cancer is not growing or spreading. 🙏
Kids like Nori should be living life, NOT fighting for it.
Now, Nori wants to celebrate your PROTECTOR status personally...
Don, THANK YOU!
You are making your personal impact to end childhood cancer and save little lives. ❤️
Now, let's keep going for Nori... #GriffinMyHeartForever
Posted 69 days ago -
Over half way to cross-Canada goal
27 Jun 2024June is coming to a close and I’ve ridden 3858km so far which puts me on track for my annual target of 7204 km to cross the country virtually.
Posted 83 days ago -
#GriffinMyHeartForever
27 Jun 2024VIP package arrived today. Thanks GCC….will wear it proudly in memory of Griff Bell who would have been 7 years old yesterday. I ride each day with #GriffinMyHeartForever www.greatcyclechallenge.ca/riders/donross
Posted 83 days ago -
$500 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $500 to fight kids' cancer and achieved GUARDIAN LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 101 days ago -
$250 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $250 to fight kids' cancer and achieved PROTECTOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 101 days ago -
$100 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $100 to fight kids' cancer and achieved DEFENDER LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 101 days ago -
Planting a memory of Griff Bell in New Brunswick
24 May 2024While out east in Knowlesville , New Brunswick visiting our family there we planted a Forsythia in memory of Griff Bell that will turn golden each year and remind us of what a bright light he brought to the world while he was alive. #GriffinMyHeartForever
Posted 118 days ago -
Riding Across Canada Virtually in 2024
11 Apr 2024Each of the past 3 years I’ve been able to log enough KM’s on the bike to have ridden across Canada from St John’s , NL to Victoria, BC ( 7204 km ) so that’s my annual goal again in 2024. The first 3 months riding mainly indoors I’m off to a decent start with 1940 km total ( 744 in Jan….504 in Feb & 692 in March ) All good training to prepare for my 1000 km goal for the August GCC. #GriffinMyHeart and thinking of all the kids I ride for each day.
Posted 160 days ago
My Sponsors
-
Kick Cancer's Butt Day matched donation
$1,874.17Received this donation 35 days agoDon
-
Lynn Strey
$517.50Received this donation 35 days agoDon
-
Matt Ross
$517.50Received this donation 35 days agoDon
-
Sarah/Jim Hurst
$450Received this donation 101 days agoDon
-
JMo
$258.75Received this donation 35 days agoDon
-
Lynn Watson
$207Received this donation 77 days agoDon
-
Michael Cooke
$170Received this donation 35 days agoDon
-
Lynn Watson
$155.25Received this donation 35 days agoDon
-
Cathy & Joel Walker
$124.20Received this donation 72 days agoDon
-
Donald Chisholm
$124.20Received this donation 39 days agoDon
-
June Collins
$124.20Received this donation 76 days agoDon
-
Lorie Stevenson
$124.20Received this donation 35 days agoDon
-
Sherrida Rawlings
$124.20Received this donation 39 days agoDon
-
Stuart Ross
$119.03Received this donation 35 days agoDon
-
Evan, Tamy, Abby + (griff)
$103.50Received this donation 38 days agoDon
-
Hugh Jackson
$103.50Received this donation 18 days agoDon
-
Jason Butchart
$103.50Received this donation 35 days agoDon
-
Karen Whelpdale
$103.50Received this donation 35 days agoDon
-
Paula Walker
$103.50Received this donation 35 days agoDon
-
Alison and David Hicks
$100Received this donation 42 days agoDon