July 23, 2026 morning ride with Corrie

So most of my time has been used to fundraise this year, and I haven't been as motivated to do the cycling. Roads seem to be more dangerous, and perhaps my age has a little something to do with the safety aspect of things as well. This morning I met my friend Corrie in Tillsonburg so that we could scout out a nice ride for the upcoming Tillsonburg Group Ride. It was a lovely ride that we did in a leisurely fashion.....no rushing, but just enjoying the scenery along the way. Some beautiful homes along the way to see.....and no gravel riding at all!!!! The ride from the parking lot to Makkink's Flower Farm and Bakery was 10.9 kilometers. A great cup of coffee with a lemon square and a chat with the owner, and we were off to the parking lot again. For our group ride there are a few options. After lunch, for those wanting to get some more kilometers, the option exists to cycle on the TransCanada Trail to Highway 59 and back to the parking lot (34 km from parking lot to Highway 59), or you can go back the same way we came (total kilometers would be 21.8 kilometers) or a ride on the first part of the TransCanada Trail back to the parking lot would be the shortest ride for a total of 14.5 kilometers. The choice is yours. But the cycling will all be paved this year, unless you opt to go to Highway 59 and back....then from the bakery to the highway and back will be on gravel. It's a lovely ride though and we thoroughly enjoyed it. For those planning to join in the group ride, please remember to sign up on the Group Ride page of the GCC site. It's under Community and is called Tillsonburg Group Ride. Hoping for good weather and a good turnout this year

July 16, 2026

With the air quality still at an 11, being outside is not a good option. But I have a munchkin here who was planning to go swimming and now he can’t. Big disappointment t because he’s like a fish in the water!

On another note, today is raise $24 in 24 hours for the chance to win a Garmin watch that, should I win it, I would gift to one of the donors participating. Make your $24 donation today on my GCC site to be included!

July 12, 2026

Well, my bike is back home after a health and wellness checkup! Getting ready for our group ride in August! I have probably not done enough training rides to date, but for me the fundraising has always been the bigger goal because that’s where we can make a difference in the lives of kids on a cancer journey…..and that has been going well! The 50/50 board is almost full so it will be fun to see a SOLD OUT banner across the board and then we can see who splits $1,000 with Great Cycle Challenge….and, don’t forget about that one lucky number - if you purchased that number, you will be the recipient of a fun prize as well! Let’s get the board filled quickly!

And then, the Southwest Oxford & Beyond fundraiser runs for the month of July, so don’t miss your opportunity to win a fabulous prize package valued at $1,545.00 After that, it’s all about biking until we get to Match Day in mid August, and our group ride on August 22, 2026 in Tillsonburg! Still lots to look forward to over the next little while, before my GCC journey comes to an end! Your support for the charity that has been a huge part of my life over the last ten years is so much appreciated. Riding in Arlene’s memory and raising much needed funds to help kids on a cancer journey has been very therapeutic and rewarding for me, but you all have helped to make this happen! For all your support, I will be forever grateful!🤗❤️😘

July 1, 2026 HAPPY CANADA DAY EVERYONE!

Well, it's Canada Day, and it's hot, hot, hot. No biking today, but fundraising can happen even when it's hot. So, as I sit here at the computer, I guess it's time to roll out another fundraiser. This is the SOUTHWEST OXFORD PLUS fundraiser, with gift certificates, products and experiences in the south west corner of Oxford County.....along with a few outside of that area. But again, the merchants have helped put together an awesome package valued at $1545.00 and for just $25.00 it could be ALL yours. This fundraiser runs from July 1 to July 31, 2026, so hurry to get your name on this wheel. Help to raise lots of money for kids fighting cancer.

The pop up fundraiser for BULLS AND BIKE is currently also running. This is just a quick short fundraiser as the event takes place on July 11, 2026 at 2 pm at the Woodstock Fairgrounds. For a donation (any amount) you have the chance to win two $40 tickets to this event. Go to my GCC site at https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/HenriettaOlthoffMulder and make a donation for your chance to enjoy a fun afternoon in Woodstock, Ontario

And then there is the 50/50 wheel that is currently running. It has 100 spaces on the wheel. For $10 per spot, you get to help fill the wheel, but more importantly, raise money for kids on a cancer journey. EMT your $10 per spot, donation to omulder@rogers.com YOU get to pick the numbers you want, and when 100 spots are filled, the wheel spin will happen, to determine who splits the $1000 with Great Cycle Challenge. As an added bonus, there is one predetermined number (picked by Oakie and written on the inside of an envelope which was then sealed). If it's a number YOU picked, there is an added prize that becomes YOURS.

Message me if you need clarification on any of this.....I know it's a lot happening all at once, but, since this is my last year with GCC, and summer is already well underway, LET'S GET THIS DONE!

June 29, 2026

It's been an amazing month of June....summer seems to have really settled in now, and the heat wave is upon us. Tomorrow marks the last day of the Shop Local Plus fundraiser. This one did extremely well, and I am excited to do the wheel spin to find out who walks away with the awesome package, made possible by so many businesses who contributed.

That being said, there is currently a small pop up fundraiser happening. Make a donation directly to my website, (not the etransfer for other packages) for your chance to go to the BULLS & BIKE RODEO, at the Woodstock Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. The value of the two tickets available is $80.00 so worth a small donation for the chance to win . And then there is the Southwest Oxford Plus Tour Package rolling out on July 1st. I am excited about this package, and even though it is a smaller package, it still has awesome experiences, gift certificates and products included in the package. The value of this package is $1545.00 so get your name on the wheel for this one, while together we raise a lot of money to help kids fighting cancer!

June 20, 2026

Having a bit of fun with ChatGPT as well. Did you know that you can create this cool graph with all your statistics in one place?

June 20, 2026

Not a day for biking today. Spent the morning trying to recover an account….ugh and then this afternoon FIFA Netherlands vs Sweden as well as a Jays game….what to watch or channel flipping today lol!

On the GCC front though, I have been busy…..looking to get 10 more names on the spinner wheel for the current fundraiser! Ten days ten names - can we get there?

And then July 1, 2026 the LAST fundraiser rolls out…..just going to give you a sneak preview of what’s coming up here!

Have a great Father’s Day weekend everyone!

June 10, 2026

Exciting news today! Emails arrived with a tracking number for the 2026 GCC jerseys and Champion kit! I’m hoping that will give me more motivation to get out on my bike a bit more!

But, it’s not like I have been sitting still….fundraising is moving ahead full steam! To that end, Is YOUR name on the wheel for the SHOP LOCAL package? For a mere $25 you have opportunity to win the $2700 prize package, filled with so much good stuff!

I was hoping to fill ten more spots by the weekend…today three of those were spoken for…seven more to go! Why not get dad a spot on the wheel for Father’s Day….who knows, your $25 could net dad an awesome prize package, and if he’s generous he may even share some of it with you! Either way, it all goes to help the kids fighting cancer!

May 27, 2026

What a gorgeous day once again! Today was a somewhat busy day. Spent my morning in Woodstock, had lunch with a friend, and gave my temporarily carless friend a ride to make a delivery!! Then headed over to someone who had a bottle pickup for me. His bottles were in his blue boxes, so he asked if I could return them for their intended use later! Problem solved….take empties to beer store in Woodstock, and return his bins to him! Upon returning the bins, the gentleman came outside and gave a cash donation to my ride!!! You know who you are, so THANK YOU! Coming back to Ingersoll, I made my way to the printer to pick up my freshly designed flyer….so here we are four days before the next fundraiser rolls out!

Did you know, this fundraiser is for kids like Freya, who is featured on the flyer, is from right here in WOODSTOCK and has family and friends in Ingersoll?!

Let’s really show some love. to raise money for kids like Freya, who are on a cancer journey!!!

With just four days to launch, what are we really waiting for….some pre sale spots have already been taken, so let’s just roll this one out NOW. It will still run until the end of June, so lots of opportunity to get your name on the wheel…perhaps even a few times🤷🏻‍♀️. It increases your odds, but more importantly, it raises more money to help the kids on a cancer journey!

$25 per spot for the opportunity to walk away with $2700 worth of gift certificates (thank you Ingersoll and area merchants, service clubs, and individuals).

SO, the SHOP LOCAL fundraiser is officially open - get your name on the wheel! GO!!!!!!

Sharing my post with friends and family is also greatly appreciated!