OPG employees climb, pedal to help fight childhood cancer

This summer, OPG employees are doing their part to take the fight to childhood cancer.

In June, a team of eight OPG employees hit the pavement to take part in the Great Cycle Challenge, riding a combined 6,668 km and raising $8,765 in support of Toronto’s SickKids Foundation for childhood cancer research.

And in August, OPG employee Adam McClare will set out to climb five mountains in five days in the Canadian Rockies, with the goal of raising $50,000 for the same foundation.

The mission for both these charity drives is the same: to end childhood cancer in our lifetime.

One in every five Canadian children with cancer do not survive, making it the deadliest disease for children today.

“Despite progress, cancer still remains the leading disease-related cause of death of children in Canada,” said McClare, a Senior Communications Manager with OPG. “I was inspired by family and friends who have bravely battled cancer to help make a difference in this fight.”

For the month of June, the Great Cycle Challenge encouraged cyclists of all ages and abilities to set a personal riding goal in support of childhood cancer research. Nationally, the initiative clocked a total of 2,331,592 km and raised a record $4,347,211 for childhood cancer research.

The OPG team, dubbed the Power Riders, included employees from the company’s hydroelectric and nuclear operations. While they didn’t ride together, each member set personal targets, with a collective goal of riding a combined 7,000 km.

“I was stoked to be a part of this challenge and raise funds for such an important cause,” said Zach Wood-Seams, an Assistant Plant Engineer in OPG’s Northwest Operations who biked more than 380 km and raised more than $500.

Meanwhile, McClare has been busy over the past year training and planning for his climb in the Rockies later this summer.