Over 500 cyclists will pedal from Grand Bend to London this weekend to support those living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
MS Canada's two-day bike event will kick off on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. from the Grand Bend Motorplex and will finish Sunday afternoon.
Riders will bike 150 kilometres, with checkpoints along the way, and will spend the night at Western University's dorms in London. An evening ceremony will be held at the Western Student Recreation Centre.
On the second day, participants can enjoy a BBQ lunch before heading back to Grand Bend.
The local fundraiser is one of 12 MS Bike events held across Canada over a four-month period, and the Grand Bend to London Bike is the second largest in the country.
Gus Kailis said this will be his 15th Grand Bend to London ride and he's participated in a few others over the years.
"It's a lot of fun," he said. "You ride at your own pace in groups, and you chit-chat all the way. There's no prize for first place, it's the charity at the end that wins."
Kailis said some participants will travel from across the province for the event.
"Generally, everybody doing the ride is touched by the disease at some point, through friends or family or people they know," he said. "But it's also a great ride for the avid cyclist that wants a semi-controlled route."
As someone who lives with MS, Kailis said he initially didn't share his diagnosis with those outside of his immediate circle of family and friends as he himself adjusted to the news.
"Over the years I realized, I'm one of many reasons why people ride out there. So, I came out and have been pretty vocal since," Kailis said. "It's amazing to see all the people who slug it out for two days."
Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, read a media release. Over 90,000 Canadians are living with the disease, which affects the central nervous system.
The fundraising goal for this year's Grand Bend to London MS Bike is $1 million. As of Friday, over $650,000 was raised.
Kailis asked motorists to be cautious during the ride by giving cyclists some space, he also encouraged residents to show support for participants by cheering them on along the route.
