The Raptors are on the move!

The SRDC Velo-ciraptors have completed the first lap of our four-lap 2026 Great Cycle Challenge – and we’re off to a terrific start!

This year, we have 16 cyclists on our team: David, Vicki, Taylor, Shawn, Patrick, Ona, Kim, Kemi, Jacey, Reuben, Julie, Masashi, Chloe, Arij, Elizabeth, and our Board Chair, Richard Wagner, who is riding with us again this year. Thank you, everyone, for signing up and being part of the team!

So far, we have cycled an impressive 572.5 km. Collectively, that’s about 57 km per day and already 23% towards our 2,500 km team goal. At this point last year, we were just 10% of the way toward the same goal. What a fantastic start!

If you haven’t started cycling yet, no worries – there are still three weeks to go. But now is the time to dust off your velocipede and get those wheels turning!

We’ve also raised $529 for SickKids Foundation, which is more than 20% of our $2,500 fundraising goal. Nationally, the SRDC Velo-ciraptors are currently in 212th place among more than 1,000 registered teams and 38th among nearly 100 Companies teams. Well done, raptors!

A few GCC reminders:

1. You set your own mileage goal for the Challenge. Whether it’s 5 km, 50 km or 500 km – or anything in between – the goal is yours.

2. There are two ways to log your kilometres. You can sign in and enter them manually or use the GCC app and select “Track Outdoor Ride” when you head out. The app will automatically track your distance and, when you finish, display a map of your route on your GCC page.

3. Log your rides as you go or catch up later. You can record each ride individually or manually enter multiple rides at once.

4. Make it fun! You can add a note and/or photo to each ride you log.

5. Ride wherever you are. Your kilometres count whether you’re cycling outdoors anywhere in the world or indoors on a stationary bike.

And finally, our Velo-ciraptors team cycling caps are expected any day now! (Photo below.) We’ll get them out to everyone as soon as they arrive. We hope you like them and will wear them proudly.

One lap down, three to go. Looking forward to seeing what Week 2 brings!

Have fun and be safe on your bikes!

Elizabeth

Last Call – Two More Sleeps!

On Saturday, we roll up to the starting gate! 🚴‍♀️

While you’re welcome to join the SRDC Velo-ciraptors at any time throughout August, I wanted to send one final invitation to start the challenge with us from Day One.

So far, eight colleagues have signed up, and we’d love to welcome a few more before we roll out. If you've been thinking about joining but haven't signed up yet, now’s the time!

Remember, this isn't about being a serious cyclist or raising lots of money. Whether you ride 5 km or 500 km, whether you fundraise or simply challenge yourself to achieve a personal distance goal, every rider strengthens our team and helps support the incredible work of SickKids Foundation.

If you've been looking for a reason to get outdoors, stay active, and be part of something positive with your colleagues, this is it!

We’d love to have you with us at the starting line. Come ride with us!

Elizabeth

The Velociraptors are gearing up - will you ride with us? (We hope so!)

In less than two weeks, we'll kick off another month of cycling in support of SickKids Foundation.

Our little but mighty team of SRDC cyclists has proudly participated in the Great Cycle Challenge every August for the past seven years. This year, we've once again set ambitious goals: to ride 2,500 km and raise $2,500 for SickKids.

So far, we have five cyclists on board and have already raised $323.42 - that's 13% of our fundraising goals, and we haven't even left the starting gate!

We’d love to see more SRDC'ers join our team. You can ride anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace. The Great Cycle Challenge app makes it easy by automatically tracking and logging your rides. It's a super fun way to stay active, challenge yourself, and support an incredible cause. And, of course, all Velo-ciraptors will receive team swag and be eligible for prizes!

Please don’t let fundraising stop you from joining us. There is absolutely no obligation to raise money. We’d love to have you on the team, whether you choose to fundraise or simply commit to riding with us throughout August. Every Velo-ciraptor makes our team stronger, and every kilometre cycled helps make a difference for kids at SickKids.

Please consider joining our fabulous, fierce Velo-ciraptors – let's ride and roar together for SickKids!

Elizabeth

Back in the Saddle: Year 8 for the SRDC Velo-ciraptors!

"Children should be living life, not fighting for it."

This August, the SRDC Velo-ciraptors team will once again participate in the Great Cycle Challenge in support of children fighting cancer, marking our our 8th consecutive year.

Through this initiative, we are proud to raise funds for SickKids Foundation, supporting their critical work in developing treatments and advancing the search for a cure for childhood cancer. To date, our team has raised over $36,000 - and we're not stopping there!

Please support our efforts by making a donation. Every contribution makes a meaningful difference.

Thank you for your support,

SRDC Velo-ciraptors