Close X
Friday, November 1, 2024
ADVT 
National

21-Year-Old Cycling Across Canada For Alzheimer’S Research In Grandfather’s Memory

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Jul, 2018 12:37 PM
    HALIFAX — A young man is nearing the end of his 8,000-kilometre bike ride across Canada, an endeavour he began to honour his grandfather and raise money for Alzheimer's research.
     
     
    Skyler Roberts, who has raised nearly $2,000 for the Alzheimer Society of Canada so far, said his grandfather was diagnosed with the disease several years ago and died in January.
     
     
    "I didn't really notice it when it started, because it just started with him being a bit quiet, or repeating the same thing," said Roberts.
     
     
    "A few times we'd have a conversation, and as it went on you could see that he was really having trouble following conversations and starting to forget people."
     
     
    Originally from Brampton, Ont., the 21-year-old flew to British Columbia three months ago with his best friend, where they began their journey by dipping their feet in the Pacific Ocean.
     
     
    The two men recently arrived in Halifax, and Roberts said they have plans to bike up to Cape Breton and hop on a ferry to Port aux Basques, N.L., before making their way to their final destination of St. John's, N.L., where they'll finish their journey by dipping their feet in the Atlantic Ocean.
     
     
    Roberts said his grandfather came to Canada from India 50 years ago and fell in love with the country, so the trip seemed like a fitting tribute.
     
     
    "I think he'd be pretty proud of me," said Roberts, before adding: "I think he'd also think I was a little bit crazy for doing this."
     
     
    They hope to wrap up their trip by July 31: a hundred days after they left.
     
     
    "My grandfather lived to be 99, so we figured we'd go for 100," said Roberts.
     
     
    According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the disease is a major cause of dementia, which they say affects over 500,000 Canadians.
     
     
    In a written statment, society spokeswoman Rosanne Meandro said: "Most of us will be touched by Alzheimer's or other form of dementia at some point in our lives, so it's tremendously appreciated when Canadians of all ages and walks of life get behind this cause to raise much-needed awareness and funds for research."
     
     
    Before embarking on the trip, neither of them had any cycling experience, and Roberts said they were unsure if they would actually be able to do it.
     
     
    "We just said, 'Hey, let's see how far we can go,'" he laughed. "We've somehow made it this far and got some good muscles ... we're definitely cyclists now."
     
     
    The two men cycle during the day, and at night, Roberts said they either set up camp or stay with people in the towns they're travelling through.
     
     
    Before they took off, Roberts bet his cycling companion Mario Caicedo $20 that he wouldn't be able to complete the journey. With the end of their trip on the horizon, Caicedo said he looks forward to cashing in on that bet — but not as much as he looks forward to being back home.
     
     
    "It's been a long trip and I'm ready for it to be over, to go home and have my bed every day, as opposed to sometimes not knowing whether or not we'll be able to sleep inside," Caicedo added.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Police Search For South Asian Driver Who Struck Mountie, Breaking His Arm In Burnaby

    RCMP say a Mountie suffered a broken arm while attempting to stop a driver who was allegedly using an electronic device behind the wheel in Burnaby, B.C.

    Police Search For South Asian Driver Who Struck Mountie, Breaking His Arm In Burnaby

    Victims Of Humboldt Broncos Crash May Soon Get Interim Payments

    Victims Of Humboldt Broncos Crash May Soon Get Interim Payments
    SASKATOON — The victims of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team bus crash may soon get interim payments from a fundraising campaign that has collected $15.2 million.

    Victims Of Humboldt Broncos Crash May Soon Get Interim Payments

    Toronto Student Arrested For Protesting Demolition Of Palestinian Village

    Toronto Student Arrested For Protesting Demolition Of Palestinian Village
    Karen Rodman says she and her 21-year-old daughter, Michaela Lavis, have been doing humanitarian work in the West Bank since late May.  

    Toronto Student Arrested For Protesting Demolition Of Palestinian Village

    Arena In Prince Rupert, B.C., Briefly Closed By Ammonia Leak From Outside Tank

    Arena In Prince Rupert, B.C., Briefly Closed By Ammonia Leak From Outside Tank
    A leak in an external ammonia tank beside the municipal arena in Prince Rupert, B.C., forced the evacuation of the facility on Wednesday.

    Arena In Prince Rupert, B.C., Briefly Closed By Ammonia Leak From Outside Tank

    Cousin Says Hiker Who Died By Waterfall Near Vancouver Died Selflessly

    Cousin Says Hiker Who Died By Waterfall Near Vancouver Died Selflessly
    The cousin of a man who fell into the pool of a waterfall north of Vancouver says Charles Ryker Gamble died trying to help his friend.

    Cousin Says Hiker Who Died By Waterfall Near Vancouver Died Selflessly

    Children Rescued From Hot Vehicle Outside Mall In Delta, B.C.

    Children Rescued From Hot Vehicle Outside Mall In Delta, B.C.
    Police are recommending criminal charges after a father allegedly left his two young children in a vehicle outside a shopping mall in Metro Vancouver on Canada Day.

    Children Rescued From Hot Vehicle Outside Mall In Delta, B.C.