Mark Hiemstra
- National: 41st
- Province: 21st in ON
- My Team: 1st
I'm Riding For
Christine Hiemstra
Christine, my mom, was diagnosed with melanoma in 2015. Sadly she lost her battle on June 17, 2024. This year I will be not only cycling for all the kids and their parents, but also for Mom.
My Story
This August, I’m participating in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids’ cancer.
Why? This cause is deeply personal to me.
More than 1,400 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in Canada, and it remains the leading cause of disease-related death among children—something no family should have to face. While we lost our baby girl Evelyn to a different cause, I understand the fear and heartbreak of losing a child. My mom also passed away from melanoma on June 17, 2024.
This year, I ride in honour of these children, their families, Evelyn, and my mom. Kids should be living their lives—not fighting for them.
This is my sixth year in the challenge. Throughout August, I’ll be riding the Guelph-to-Goderich (G2G) Rail Trail. I invite you to join me! I’ll ride every Saturday and during the final week, completing 132 km rides, with a final 260 km end-to-end ride to finish.
I’m raising funds for SickKids Foundation to support better treatments and a cure.
Please consider donating. As a thank you, anyone who rides with me will receive a handmade wooden medallion.
We’ll also have prize draws in June–September, plus extra prizes on Kick Cancer’s Butt Day. A $25 donation earns one ballot. Prizes include a charcuterie board, 3D-printed games, a family pass to Clovermead Adventure Farm, and more.
Donors of $100+ are invited to an All-You-Can-Eat Rib & Chicken BBQ on September 19th.
Thank you for your support—your generosity makes a real difference.
Mark
My Legacy
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605 km Ridden$1,081 Raised2021
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728 km Ridden$1,540 Raised2022
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1,195 km Ridden$4,000 Raised2023
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1,536 km Ridden$6,548 Raised2024
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1,574 km Ridden$10,658 Raised2025
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1,313 km Ridden$10,045 Raised2026
My Challenge
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Jayden's BIG 50 km Ride.
7 Sep 2026Jayden did it! His first ever 50 km ride. At times he was struggling, but with some rest stops, snacks, and powder sugar candy, he did it. Of course we had to stop at Anna Mae's for breakfast, and the world's best donut. He did it. I'm so proud of you Jayden. Excellent job.
Love Dad
Posted 6 hours ago -
52.9 km ride - Morning Ride - Saturday, September 5, 2026
Logged this ride 2 days ago - View on Strava -
$10,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just hit $10,000 to fight kids' cancer! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 10 days ago -
Cycling Trip - Day 4 - The BIG One
28 Aug 2026Today’s trip is going to be a 260+ km ride down the G2G Rail Trail. Yes today I’m doing 260+ km to Goderich and back. I left this morning at 2:00 am, and currently eating breakfast at 5:35 at Tim Hortons.
Met Chris Teschke on the trail around 3:00 am. Thanks for the support Chris.
I’m going to keep adding to this post as the day goes on.
7:00 am. I'm at 71 km. The sun is starting to shine.
8:22 am. Obstacles in my way. Machine was cutting down branches and littered the trail. I had to ride/walk about 3.5 km. Killed my average speed.
9:13 am. Made it to Blyth. Onward we go.
10:15 am. At the river in Auburn. Just crossed. Here we go again.
11:23. 1/2 WAY THERE!!! I’m at the 130 km. Just another 130 to go. Looks like I’m going to have a tail wind home. Small blessings.
12:00 pm. lunch time. 1 hour break.
2:04 pm. Back at the river going back towards Blyth.
6:20 pm. just hit the 200 km mark.
10:15 pm. Arrived home. Sore legs, sore butt, but did I ever kick cancer’s butt.
🚴♂️ 11:50 AM — Saturday the next day.
I’m sore. I’m tired. And honestly, I’m still trying to wrap my head around what we accomplished yesterday. ❤️
260.29 km.
Started at 2:00 AM. Finished at 10:15 PM. 21 hours and 15 minutes on the bike.
🔥 7,734 calories burned
⛰️ 1,121 m elevation gained
⚡ 18.2 km/h average speed
The Double Double was one of the toughest rides I’ve ever done, but I’m incredibly proud that I pushed through and finished it.
But more than anything, I’m so grateful.
Grateful for everyone who has supported me. Grateful for everyone who donated, shared my posts, cheered me on, rode with me, helped me along the way, and believed in what we’re doing.
I’m also incredibly grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to be part of the Great Cycle Challenge for another year and to ride for something bigger than myself — fighting kids’ cancer. 💛
Six years of riding. Thousands of kilometres. So many incredible memories. And an amazing community of people who continue to show up and support this cause.
Yesterday may have been the final big ride, but the fight doesn’t stop.
Thank you. ❤️
Posted 11 days ago -
262.7 km ride - Night Ride - Friday, August 28, 2026
Logged this ride 11 days ago - View on Strava -
133.4 km ride - Morning Ride - Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Logged this ride 12 days ago - View on Strava -
93.7 km ride - Morning Ride - Monday, August 24, 2026
Logged this ride 14 days ago - View on Strava -
Cycling Trip Day 3 - Aug 24
24 Aug 2026Day 3 on the G2G 🚴♂️🌧️💨
Today, August 24, was Day 3 of cycling the G2G, and honestly… it was not the day I was expecting.
I knew today was going to be tough. Rain, a strong headwind, and a very tired and sore body. But I was determined to keep going.
I made it almost to the halfway point when I popped a tire. After taking some time to fix it, I got back on the bike and kept pushing.
Rain. Headwind. Sore body. Tired legs.
But I wasn’t giving up.
Then came blowout #2. 😩
This time, I discovered there was actually a hole in the sidewall of my tire, and there was no way I could safely continue.
Today’s goal was 132 km.
I made it 91.25 km. 🚴♂️
I’m definitely disappointed that I couldn’t finish the planned distance, but I’m proud that I kept pushing until my equipment simply wouldn’t let me go any farther.
And I am so incredibly grateful for my support team who came out to pick me up (Thanks Dad & Joyce), get me and my bike to Camp, and even took my wheel to the shop to get it repaired. ❤️
This isn’t the end of the ride. It’s just a reminder that sometimes you have to listen to your body—and your equipment.
Tomorrow is another day. 💪🚴♂️
91.25 km down. The G2G isn’t finished with me yet!
#GreatCycleChallenge #G2G #G2GRailTrail #KickCancersButt #FightKidsCancer #CyclingForACause #NeverGiveUp
Posted 14 days ago -
Cycling Trip Day 2 - Aug 23
24 Aug 2026Sunday, August 23 🚴♂️🌧️
Today was a long, tough ride in the rain.
I left camp and about five minutes later, I was soaking wet. It was a heavy, wet rain pretty much my whole entire ride. There were periods where I was dry for maybe half an hour, but then it would start raining again.
This was the kind of rain that soaked right through my raincoat. Six and a half hours later, I arrived home completely soaking wet.
Riding in the wind and riding in the rain will definitely makes you tired. But at the end of the day, I still had an emergency service call for work, so after the ride I had to head out and put in another 4½ hours.
It was a long day. I was tired. I was wet. And my body was definitely feeling it.
But it is my honour and privilege to cycle through some rain and struggle if it helps bring awareness and raise funds to fight kids’ cancer. ❤️
And tomorrow looks like another opportunity to cycle through more rain and some headwinds.
So tomorrow, we keep going.
One pedal stroke at a time. 🚴♂️💪
Kicking Cancer’s Butt! 🎗️
Posted 14 days ago -
134.3 km ride - Morning Ride - Sunday, August 23, 2026
Logged this ride 15 days ago - View on Strava
My Sponsors
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Kick Cancer's Butt Day matched donation
“Here's your matched donation made possible by the generosity of long-time SickKids Foundation supporters, the Garron family. THANK YOU so much for your awesome efforts to kick cancer's butt!”
$2,530.53Received this donation 25 days ago
Mark
“Thank you so much Garron family for the amazing support over the years.”
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S.M. Clappison
“You're doing an excellent job, keep up the good work.”
$1,035Received this donation 26 days ago
Mark
“Steve. Thank you so much for your generosity & support over the years. We are kicking cancers butt.”
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Bryant Harris
“Way to go, Mark”
$517.50Received this donation 91 days ago
Mark
“Bryant. Thank you for your ongoing support. Together we are making a difference in kids and their families lives.”
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Anonymous
$517.50Received this donation 26 days ago
Mark
“Thank you so much.”
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Anonymous
$517.50Received this donation 35 days ago
Mark
“Thank you so much for the very generous donation. It's making a big difference in family lives.”
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Randy Henderson
“Happy to support you Mark and this great cause!”
$350Received this donation 46 days ago
Mark
“Wow Randy & Eileen. Thank you for helping me kick Cancer’s butt. Together we are changing lives.”
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Blacks Point Development
$258.75Received this donation 35 days ago
Mark
“Thank you so much for your support as together we kick cancer’s butt”
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David Hillis
$258.75Received this donation 26 days ago
Mark
“Dave, thanks for your amazing support over the years. Thanks for joining on some of our rides too. It means a lot.”
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Donald Tuck
“I know you can do this! God bless you!”
$258.75Received this donation 67 days ago
Mark
“Wow! You guys are so amazing. Thanks for helping me kick cancers butt.”
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Joyce Hiemstra
$258.75Received this donation 26 days ago
Mark
“Joyce you're amazing. Thank you so much for your support.”
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Marvin Rempel
$250Received this donation 35 days ago
Mark
“Marvin. Thank your on going support over all these years. Thankful you are our backup plan for double double day. Thank you again.”
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Anonymous
$207Received this donation 182 days ago
Mark
“Thank you so much for the support. Together we are changing little lives.”
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John Hiemstra
“Way to go Mark”
$200Received this donation 26 days ago
Mark
“Thanks dad for all your love and support over the years. It means the world to me.”
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John Driezen
“Keep on riding strong Mark!”
$155.25Received this donation 26 days ago
Mark
“Thanks Johnny for helping kick Cancer’s Butt. Your support over the years means a lot.”
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8+ Inc.
$150Received this donation 25 days ago
Mark
“Thank you 8+ for the ongoing support”
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Tim RILEY
“I have known Mark for many years and I am proud and blessed to call him my friend/Brother ❤️👊!! I was greatly saddened by the loss of his daughter Evelyn....and I attended her celebration of life and how much she was cherished and loved. Mark is a great father and a family oriented man❤️👊 !! I am glad he is taking his pain, grief and loss and is using it to give him a constructive passion and a way to make a difference; :by raising funds through The Great Cycle Challenge for children's cancer research and treatment, in Evelyns memory. I was encouraged to hear his son Jayden will be joining him this year. It affected their whole family and they are doing something very constructive to help them work through their grief and loss, and keep Evelyns memory alive and honoured within their family ❤️🩹✝️. Please consider supporting Mark and Jayden in this very personal Great Cycle Challenge, helping then heal their grief and loss and making a positive difference, helping others”
$124.20Received this donation 92 days ago
Mark
“Thank you brother for the kind words. Thank you for helping me kick cancer's butt.”
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Bob Pauw
“Good luck! Hope it goes well, pedal hard!”
$103.50Received this donation 21 days ago
Mark
“Bob. Thank you so much for your donation. It means so much to the kids and their families. We are kicking cancer's butt together.”
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Grant Watkinson
“Keep up the great work Mark! Grant and Nancy”
$103.50Received this donation 26 days ago
Mark
“Thank you Grant & Nancy. Together we are fighting kids cancer”
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Juanita Ogilvie
“Oh my...your loss of Evelyn Hope will forever be remembered in my heart. I grieved with your family then and still have that lingering sadness of a beautiful life never lived outside the womb. She is missed. Your compassion is deep. Grief can make us bitter or compassionate. You chose compassion. Ride on!”
$103.50Received this donation 65 days ago
Mark
“Juanita. Thank you so much for all your support of the years. I’m blessed to have friends like you.”
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Lynn Lewis
$103.50Received this donation 26 days ago
Mark
“Thanks Lynn. Together we are making a difference, and giving families a fighting chance.”