100 km Donut Run - July 11th

Some of the best rides begin long before the rest of the world wakes up.

This week's Mark & Maad (M&M) Ride started at 5:15 a.m. with the sun just beginning to rise over Waterloo Region. There is something special about watching the countryside wake up from the seat of a bicycle—the quiet trails, peaceful back roads, and cool morning air make every kilometre worthwhile.

As always, there were plenty of laughs, great conversation, and of course a stop for what might just be the best apple fritter ever! Sometimes it's the simple moments that make a ride unforgettable.

Every kilometre brings me one step closer to my Great Cycle Challenge goal and helps raise awareness and funds for kids fighting cancer. Thank you to everyone who continues to support this journey. Your encouragement and generosity mean more than you know.

Because kids should be living their lives—not fighting for them. 💛🚴

🚴 Waterloo to Goderich – 132 km of Adventure! - July 4th

On July 4, I set out from RIM Park at 4:00 a.m. for one of my favourite rides of the year—the 132 km journey from Waterloo to Goderich along the incredible G2G Rail Trail.

Every time I ride this route, I'm reminded just how beautiful Southwestern Ontario really is. There's something special about cycling through quiet country roads, rolling farmland, and welcoming small towns before most people are even awake.

One of the day's biggest challenges came just five minutes before reaching Tim Hortons when the rain started. I couldn't help but laugh—I just needed five more minutes! Thankfully, the rain didn't last long, and the adventure continued.

Some of my favourite moments included:

🚴 Riding past the Great Wall of Wallenstein

🌾 Passing the historic Old Mill in Monkton

🌉 Crossing the many bridges that make this trail so unique

🌳 Reporting a few fallen trees to the G2G Trail Association to help keep the trail safe for everyone

💦 Wading across the Maitland River, which is always one of the highlights of the ride

🌊 Rolling into beautiful Goderich after 132 unforgettable kilometres and seeing the shores of Lake Huron.

The perfect way to finish the day was spending some time with my dad at the beach. He shared some of his fries and, of course, we ate ice cream while watching the waves roll in. After a long day in the saddle, there couldn't have been a better ending.

These rides are about far more than distance. Every kilometre I ride is for the children and families affected by childhood cancer. Through the Great Cycle Challenge, we're helping SickKids Foundation give these kids the brighter future they deserve.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support, encourage, and donate. Your generosity keeps me pedalling, and together we're making a difference—one kilometre at a time. 💛🚴

If you'd like to support my Great Cycle Challenge, I'd be incredibly grateful. Every donation helps give kids fighting cancer a better chance at life.

#GreatCycleChallenge #RideForTheKids #G2GTrail #WaterlooToGoderich #RideForACause #SickKidsFoundation #CyclingAdventure

🚴 5th Annual Great Cycle Challenge Donor Appreciation BBQ 🍖

One of my favourite traditions each year is saying thank you to the incredible people who support my Great Cycle Challenge.

To everyone who has donated $100 or more to this year's ride, you're invited to join us for our 5th Annual Donor Appreciation BBQ on Saturday, September 19.

We'll be firing up the grill with all-you-can-eat ribs and BBQ chicken, enjoying some backyard games, handing out this year's fundraising prizes, and, if the weather cooperates, the pool will be open too!

This BBQ is my way of thanking you for standing beside Jayden and me as we ride to fight kids' cancer. Your generosity is helping fund life-saving research and giving hope to children and families facing one of life's toughest battles.

Guests are welcome, and if you're able, please bring a salad or dessert to share.

📅 Saturday, September 19

🕚 11:00 AM

📩 Please RSVP by September 12

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making this journey possible. We can't wait to spend the day celebrating with you.

Mark & Jayden Hiemstra 💙🚴🧡

Evelyn: The Little Girl Who Inspires Every Mile

Every August, I ride in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer. People often ask me what keeps me going through the early mornings, long rides, sore legs, and countless kilometres.

The answer is simple: Evelyn.

Evelyn is my daughter. She was born on May 3, 2019, just three days before her due date. Tragically, instead of coming home with us, she went straight into the arms of Jesus. In a single moment, our family's world changed forever.

There are no words that truly capture the pain of losing a child. While the years have helped us learn how to carry that grief, they have never taken it away. Evelyn will always be part of our family. She is loved every day, remembered in every milestone, and missed more than words can express. Although our hearts ache for the life we never got to share with her, we find peace in knowing she is safe.

When I first joined the Great Cycle Challenge, I did it because no family should have to hear the words, "Your child has cancer." While our family's loss was different, I know what it is like to have your hopes and dreams for your child change in an instant. That experience has given me a deep compassion for families who spend every day praying, hoping, and fighting for more time with their children.

Every kilometre I ride is for kids who are battling cancer. Every dollar raised helps fund life-saving research that gives children a better chance to grow up, chase their dreams, and create memories with the people who love them.

But every ride is also for Evelyn.

When the rides get tough, I think about her. I think about the life she never had the opportunity to live, and it reminds me why these kilometres matter. She inspires me to keep pedalling when I want to stop, to climb one more hill, and to do everything I can to help give other children the chance to experience birthdays, graduations, family vacations, and all the little moments we so often take for granted.

This year, my son Jayden is riding alongside me. Watching him honour his little sister while helping children he has never met fills me with pride. It reminds me that love doesn't end when someone is gone. Evelyn continues to shape our family, inspiring us to love more deeply, serve more faithfully, and make a difference wherever we can.

If you've supported me by donating, sharing my page, cheering me on, or praying for our family, thank you. Your generosity is doing so much more than supporting a bike ride. You are helping fund research that gives children hope, gives families more precious time together, and brings us one step closer to a world where no child has to endure cancer.

Evelyn may never ride beside me, but I carry her with me every time I clip into my pedals. She is there in every sunrise start, every steep climb, every kilometre, and every finish line.

I ride because every child deserves the chance to grow up.

I ride because every family deserves hope.

And I ride in loving memory of my daughter, Evelyn, whose life, though far too short, continues to inspire every mile I pedal.

🎉 It's time for our June Great Cycle Challenge Prize Draw! 🎉

First, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated during June. Every donation helps support the fight against childhood cancer, and every name in this raffle represents someone who chose to make a difference. We truly couldn't do this without you. 💛🚴

Now for the moment we've all been waiting for...

🥁 The winner of the Mini Porch Sign is... [Tim R]! 🎉

And now it's Jayden's turn...

🐉 The winner of Jayden's 3D Printed Dragon is... [Bryan H]! 🎉

Congratulations to both of our winners! We'll be in touch to arrange getting your prizes.

But we're just getting started...

🔥 July's Giveaway! 🔥

This month we're giving away FOUR custom laser-engraved serving boards, generously donated by On The Mark Laser Engraving!

🏆 Two serving boards will be drawn from everyone who donates through Mark's Great Cycle Challenge page.

🏆 Two serving boards will be drawn from everyone who donates through Jayden's Great Cycle Challenge page.

Every $25 donated earns you one ballot, so the more you donate, the more chances you have to win—all while helping kids battling cancer.

To support our ride and be entered into the July draw:

🚴 Mark's Great Cycle Challenge:

https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/MarkHiemstra

🚴 Jayden's Great Cycle Challenge:

https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/JaydenHiemstra

Learn more about On The Mark Laser Engraving and our custom work at:

https://www.onthemarklaser.ca

Thank you for supporting our Great Cycle Challenge and helping give these incredible kids a fighting chance against childhood cancer. Together, let's make July our biggest month yet! 💛🚴