Heart of my heart

In 1987 the first fundraising ride for the Heart and Stroke Foundation was organized. Twentyfour years later it still happens on the first Sunday of June. If you’re a cyclist it’s a great thrill to pedal your arse across the Gardiner Expressway, up the Don Valley Parkway and then turn around at York Mills Road and head on back the way you came. I suppose, for those Toronto drivers who don’t read the papers or listen to the news, the first Sunday in June is a rude awakening and a colossal pain in the general saddle area.

If you know me, and some of you do, I will be taking part in the 2011 Becel Ride for Heart and Stroke.This will be the third year I’ve cycled in this event and, with a little help from my friends and family, I’ve raised thousands of dollars for heart and stroke research. No, make that a lot of help from my friends and family. On Sunday June 5, LOML and youngest son will be accompanying me on the “Early Start – Fifty Kilometre Ride.” Each of the over 20,000 riders who takes part in this event has a personal reason for participating. Last year a couple of cyclists told me they pay their $50 entry fee, skip the fundraising and take advantage of a Sunday morning cycling on two of the busiest inner-city roadways in Canada. I have to admit, cycling on the Don Valley Parkway is a bit decadent in a thumb-your-nose-at-rush-hour kinda way. Several riders, dressed as pirates, told me their fundraising for the next ride starts the day after the last ride—a bit like Christmas shopping in January. I admire their commitment, but I am a bit of procrastinator and give myself the slimmest of timeframes to reach my goal. The amazing thing about the Ride for Heart and Stroke is, without exception, every person I spoke to who participates knows a person whose life has been changed by heart disease or is a person who has survived.

Statistically, every seven minutes someone in Canada dies from heart disease. Although the number of deaths due to heart disease has steadily declined in the last 50 years, heart disease is still responsible for 30 per cent of deaths, each year, in Canada. The leading cause for hospital admission, in Canada, is heart and stroke incidents. Ninety per cent of Canadians live with at least one risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Diabetes, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, physical inactivity, high cholesterol, stress, poor diet and “quirky” genetics are some of the risk factors. Heart disease and stroke cost the Canadian economy over 20 billion dollars each year in lost productivity, hospital visits, physician visits and lost wages.

The list of “heart survivors” in my circle of family and friends isn’t long, but it is close to me. Our great niece was not expected to survive her birth and now, many heart surgeries later, she is in grade 10. But her life still depends on heart research. I ride for Emily. My father was a heart patient. His heart disease was all about lifestyle. In 2001 he suffered a stroke while visiting the County and another when he returned to his home in Toronto. In 2004 he underwent bypass surgery. As many readers know, my Dad passed away in 2009. The years of unchecked high blood pressure caused kidney failure. I ride for my Dad, Patrick. In 2006, LOML underwent bypass surgery. I ride with, and for, LOML.A friend from the old neighbourhood is, like LOML, a fellow with quirky heart genes. On Thursday, Friend Of Mine will have triple bypass surgery. I ride for Dieter. For all of the people who donated in memory of your family members and friends who didn’t survive heart disease, I ride for you.

This year’s ride in Toronto will bring over $3 million to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Have a heart and make a donation. You know you wanna!

theresa@wellingtontimes.ca