Don Ross
- National: 1450th
- Province: 788th 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 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 47 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. https://cancerresearchsociety.ca/profile/a-testament-to-the-power-of-cancer-research/ 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! #GriffinMyHeartForever #RidingForHeather #FightLikeaKid
My Story
This will be my 9th 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 , Griffin Bell from Ottawa ( June 26, 2017 - March 18, 2024 ) . Every 2 minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer around the world. Hospitals like Toronto Sick Kids and CHEO in Ottawa are doing incredible work to help children and their families dealing with childhood 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 #thegldnsociety
My Legacy
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1,562 km Ridden$1,541 Raised2018
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1,698 km Ridden$2,846 Raised2019
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2,456 km Ridden$1,045 Raised2020
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2,434 km Ridden$4,509 Raised2021
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2,010 km Ridden$3,594 Raised2022
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2,135 km Ridden$8,370 Raised2023
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1,988 km Ridden$6,316 Raised2024
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2,995 km Ridden$6,855 Raised2025
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Ridden$315 Raised2026
My Challenge
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36.0 km ride - Milford-Cherry valley-miller rd-old Milford rd- 17 and home - Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Logged this ride 13 hours ago -
$1,500,000 Raised By All Riders
4 Aug 2026Drum roll… We’ve flown past $1,500,000 raised to FIGHT KIDS' CANCER and SAVE LITTLE LIVES! 🙌
Our month of pedaling has only just kicked off, so we can’t wait to see what we achieve as we ride together this month to give kids fighting cancer the brighter futures they deserve.
GCC’ers, keep up the incredible efforts... YOU ROCK! ✊
Posted 19 hours ago -
40.0 km ride - Milford to Lake on the Mt and back - Monday, August 3, 2026
Logged this ride 2 days ago -
36.0 km ride - Trainer - Sunday, August 2, 2026
Logged this ride 3 days ago -
44.0 km ride - milford to salmon pt lighthouse via walmsley, Brummell , king, 18 and back - Saturday, August 1, 2026
Logged this ride 4 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 4 days ago -
Day 1 Begins Saturday
31 Jul 2026Tomorrow starts the 2026 Great Cycle Challenge officially and I’m all geared up for my 1000 KM goal. Had my best ever training month in July with 1064 km and over the past 7 months have averaged 682 km / mth. Logged 4777 km towards my virtual cross - Canada goal of 7821 km. Eager to raise the $5000 I hope to bring in for these amazing kids we ride for at Sick Kids Hospital. #griffinmyheartforever #childhoodcancerawareness #thegldnsociety
Posted 4 days ago -
Inspirational !
31 Jul 2026Today, we want to give a big SHOUTOUT to 11-year legacy rider Jarrod Russell! 🙌
Jarrod has ridden in every single GCC since our inaugural event in 2016. Over 11 years he has clocked 12,284km on his recumbent bike and raised an astounding $304,629 to fight kids’ cancer and save little lives!
He’s our #1 all-time fundraiser in Canada and the #3 fundraiser EVER in the history of GCC worldwide… WOW! 🤯
Jarrod himself was diagnosed with a grade 3 astrocytoma at just 4 years old, changing his life forever. He had a tumour on the front left side of his brain and endured intensive treatment at such a young age.
He shared, “I know how it feels to lose my hair, throw up regularly and watch other kids around me earn their wings. I lost a part of my childhood that I will never get back. That’s something I wouldn’t wish for any other kid to go through, and that is why I do what I do.” ✊
Now 49 years old, he lives with the ongoing effects of childhood cancer. He is partially paralysed on the right side of his body and is experiencing more falls with age due to balance issues.
But none of these challenges slow him down (clearly)… and he’s found great purpose in riding his bike.
With the unconditional love and support of his family, he rides for hope, for his dad who passed from cancer 2 years ago, for all the kids fighting, and for a future free from cancer.
His story is a testament to the impact one person can make, and it only continues to unfold – he is ready to take on Great Cycle Challenge 2026!
Jarrod, your compassion, courage, determination, and resilience are deeply inspiring. Thank you for all that you do. 🧡
Come on GCC'ers, let’s hear it for Jarrod!
Posted 5 days ago -
Special Message from Kursten
30 Jul 2026With just 2 sleeps to go, 9-year-old Kursten has a special message for YOU! 🧡
Our newest ambassador Kursten made this amazing sign to cheer you on and say, “GOOD LUCK AND LET’S KICK CANCER’S BUTT!”
Kursten has been bravely fighting Ewing Sarcoma since her diagnosis in December 2025.
At the time of her diagnosis, her condition was deteriorating quickly… the severe hip pain she was experiencing made walking almost impossible and she needed help with even the smallest movements. 💔
Her treatment journey since then has had its ups and downs – she has endured a total of 14 cycles of chemotherapy, as well as several long hospital admissions for pain, fever, and gastrointestinal issues.
Thankfully, over time, she has regained the ability to walk, climb stairs, and participate in light activities.
These days, she loves to play baseball and soccer with her brothers Kurtis and Keithan when she’s home. ⛹️♀️⚽
This bright and bubbly girl also loves drawing, doing crafts, and pretending to be a chef running her own restaurant with her kitchen toys. 👩🍳
Her family is currently waiting for the results from her 3rd and final round of scans, which will inform the next steps of treatment.
Kursten, we're riding for YOU this August! 🚴 #griffinmyheartforever #thegldnsociety #childhoodcancerawareness
Posted 5 days ago -
$800,000 Threshold Passed
17 Jul 2026WOOHOO… we’ve officially flown past $800,000 raised to KICK CANCER’s BUTT! 🤯 With 2 weeks to go until our pedalling challenge kicks off, the fundraising tally has ticked past another BIG milestone. 🚀
Our pal 10-year-old Liam made this sign to say “THANK YOU” for helping us hit $800,000 raised to save little lives! 🙌
Liam was first diagnosed with leukemia in 2019, and he is courageously battling the disease for the 3rd time in his young life.
This brave young man had a stem cell transplant in February, and he continues to recover at home with regular hospital check-ups.
His family told us that his recovery is going well, and his care team has also lowered his medications. ☺️
Liam is enjoying summer with his siblings, playing in water and drawing, and doing weekly tutoring to catch up on missed schoolwork.
THANK YOU for your amazing fundraising efforts for Liam and all the kids like him. 🧡
And we're just getting started… ONWARDS AND UPWARDS! ✊
Posted 18 days ago
My Sponsors
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Lynn Watson
$155.25Received this donation 23 days ago
Don
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Leon & Vernice Mcconnell
$100Received this donation 4 days ago
Don
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Heather Ross
$24Received this donation 20 days ago
Don
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Don Ross
$36.23Received this donation 81 days ago