Event participants rose to the occasion despite today’s uncertain climate.

The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation is happy to announce that the 2020 special edition of Pedal for Kids raised $225,891 for the Children’s young patients and their parents, who need support now more than ever. Despite the many challenges posed by COVID-19, organizing committee members, participants and donors worked together to ensure the success of the Foundation’s flagship event.

A year unlike any other!

The 17 participating teams – most of them from the private sector – weren’t able to take their traditional ride through the streets of downtown Montreal, so they celebrated their fundraising efforts safely with an virtual event on Saturday, September 26. The event Co-presidents, Rudy Azoulay and Eddy Farrace, expressed their gratitude. “Although they couldn’t participate in team-building activities with their colleagues, over 360 participants demonstrated their commitment in an inspirational way,” said Mr. Farrace. “Given the unprecedented situation, the $240,000 raised for the Healthy Kids Fund is even more remarkable,” added Mr. Azoulay.

The Healthy Kids Fund supports the Hospital’s most urgent needs, allowing our medical experts to offer essential care to countless young patients who desperately need it, now and beyond the pandemic. “The participants’ support for our young patients and their families is invaluable, especially now. It’s reassuring to be able to count on the generosity of a whole community and our precious donors to help the Children’s find unexpected ways to heal,” said Renée Vézina, the Children’s Foundation president.

Daniel, our spokeschild

Now more than ever, funds raised will make all the difference for sick children like Daniel, the event spokeschild. When Daniel was born, his parents were concerned to learn that he was deaf. At the age of three, the boy started the process for a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) implant, a procedure that would require four surgeries at the Children’s. “The implant allowed me to hear, like everyone else,” explained Daniel. “And it’s all thanks to generous people like the Pedal for Kids participants.”

The teams

Over the past 29 years, Pedal for Kids has brought together hundreds of thousands of people, as well as hundreds of businesses and community groups, raising over $13 million for sick children. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank this year’s participating teams: Air Canada Vacations, AppDirect, Colliers International, Cossette, Daniel’s Ride, Deloitte, Harrison’s Ride, Jarislowsky Fraser, Jean Fortin & Associates, Morgan Stanley, Osler, Paysafe Group, Rio Tinto, Robinson Sheppard Shapiro, Scotiabank, TD Wealth Management, Tecsys Inc.

The organizing committee

Year after year, the organizing committee’s dedication, essential to the success of Pedal for Kids, is an inspiration to the Children’s Foundation. Given this year’s unprecedented situation, we are especially grateful to them. For their tireless work, we would like to thank the members of the committee: Eddy Farrace, Rudy Azoulay, Michael Conway, Paul Normandin, John Lukca, Anthony Pepper, Michel Théroux, Johanne Sabourin and Suzanne Eissa.

Our partners

Thank you to our longstanding partners who have raised impressive amounts for the Children’s by rallying their networks to support Pedal for Kids: Borden Ladner Gervais, HSBC Bank, RBC, Community Ride : Women on Wheels and Scotia Bank.