Pedal for Kids 2023
The 32nd edition of Pedal for Kids will be supporting The Children's and its young patients!
Pedal for Kids is one of The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation’s most important fundraising activities and also one of the most exciting! Imagine a 30-seat Mighty Bike powered by proud participants making its way through the city’s downtown streets to rousing music!
A little story
In 1992, Michael Conway and Sylvie Lalumière started Pedal for Kids in memory of their daughter Meagan who had been cared for at The Montreal Children’s Hospital. Today, after thirty years, Michael continues to lead this initiative to help The Children's in its mission to provide cutting-edge care for sick children and their families.
Past editions
What is Pedal for Kids?
A fundraising challenge for corporate and community teams whose efforts are rewarded with a fun-filled ride on the Mighty Bike.
What is the Mighty Bike?
A custom-made bicycle built for 30 people.
What do I need to do to participate?
Raise a minimum of $500 in donations, and you will earn your seat on the Mighty Bike!
How long is the ride on the Mighty Bike?
The ride lasts approximately 30 minutes. You should arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of your ride and stay for 10 minutes after your ride for pictures. You should expect the activity to last approximately 1 hour total.
What happens if it’s raining on the day of the event?
Rides take place RAIN or SHINE! Waterproof ponchos that fit over your clothing will be provided in case of inclement weather.
What kind of visibility does my team receive?
Teams of 15 or 30 riders have the option of displaying a large banner on the Mighty Bike during their ride. Teams will also receive visibility on the website, on-site at the event, and on Facebook.
Who can participate in Pedal for Kids?
Anyone who wants to help improve the care provided to sick children.
How do I register a new team?
Contact Laurence at lpoi@mchf.com or 514-934-4846 ext : 29272 to register your team.
How do I join an existing team?
Go on your team’s page, and click on “Join this team”. Follow the steps to create your fundraising page.
How can I participate if I do not have a team?
You have two choices: you can create a new team, or you can join our spokeschild ride as a solo rider. In order to do so, contact Laurence at lpoi@mchf.com or 514-934-4846 ext : 29272 .
When is the deadline to register?
More details to come.
What do I do if I miss the registration deadline?
Contact Laurence at lpoi@mchf.com or 514-934-4846 ext : 29272 to know if places are still available.
Can I register more than one team?
Yes, as long as the objective for each team remains a minimum of $500 per person.
Do I have to raise funds to participate in Pedal for Kids?
Yes, if you want to deserve your place on the giant bike!
Is there a minimum fundraising objective for each participant?
The minimum objective is $500 per person. Check out our tips section to get started!
Is there a minimum fundraising objective for a team?
The minimum objective is $15,000 for a full team (30 riders) and $7,500 for a half team (15 riders). Returning teams are encouraged to beat their previous total – we believe you can do it!
How will the foundation help me to raise funds?
We provide you with an arsenal of solicitation tools: your own personal fundraising page, email templates, patient stories, pledge forms, and ideas for organizing your own fundraising activity. Check out our tips section to get started now!
What happens if I don’t complete my fundraising objective before my ride?
We encourage everyone to complete their fundraising on or before the day of their ride.
How do I create a personalized fundraising page?
Go on your team’s page, and click on “Join this team”. Follow the steps to create your fundraising page.
How do I share my fundraising page with my contacts?
Once your page is active, you can copy the link into an email or share the page with your Facebook friends and LinkedIn contacts.
How do I support a participant or a team?
At the bottom of this page, select the team of your choice. You’ll find the team members list on the right. Click on the rider you want to support and you’ll be able to make a donation on his page using the options on the right.
If you don’t know the rider’s team name, you can use the search bar at the top right of the website to look for the person of your choice. Select his page within the search results, and you’ll be able to make a donation on his page using the options on the right.
Do donors receive a full tax receipt for their donations?
Yes! 100% of donations over $15 are eligible for official tax receipts. If they make their donation online by credit card, they will receive an email with their tax receipt attached within 24 hours. If they send their donation by cheque, it will take between 6-8 weeks to receive their tax receipt by mail.
Can I make a donation online?
Yes! In fact, it is our preferred method since the processing time is much faster than for cash or cheque donations.
What do I do if someone wants to donate by cheque?
Encourage them to make their pledge on your personal fundraising page, where they can write a personal message of encouragement on your wall. The online donation payment page includes the option of donating by cheque. The cheque can be mailed directly to the foundation along with the name, address, and team name; alternatively, the cheque can be given to your team captain.
What do I do if someone wants to donate cash?
The best way to handle cash is to put it in a sealed donation envelope (provided to all participants) along with the name and address of the donor, and give it to your team captain. You can also drop it off directly at the Foundation to the attention of Laurence Poitras. Make sure that you indicate the name of your team on the envelope so we know to whom to attribute the donations!
How can I get involved in Pedal for Kids without fundraising?
Become a volunteer! Over 30 individuals help out every day on the Pedal for Kids site. Contact Laurence at lpoi@mchf.com or 514-934-4846 ext : 29272 for more information and to sign up as a volunteer.
I want to become a sponsor of the event. How do I proceed?
There are many sponsorship opportunities available for both big and small companies. Contact Angela, Director of Corporate Giving at 514-934-4846 ext. 29210.
Where your donations goes?
The funds collected will be directed to the Healthy Kids Fund, where they are used for the hospital's most urgent needs. Most notably, the funds are used for purchasing medical and surgical equipment, as well as financing innovative projects.
By supporting the Healthy Kids Fund, you are giving The Children's the necessary resources and tools when they are most needed. Your donation could be directed to:
- The acquisition of life-saving medical equipment.
- Financing important research on pediatric diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
- Training the next generation of doctors and medical specialists.
- Helping families with financial difficulty get the medical attention that their sick child needs.
- Other hospital priorities.
Your contribution is essential to maintaining the status of world-class pediatric care that The Montreal Children's Hospital has become known for. When you support our most urgent needs, you offer the best possible care to countless sick children and their families.
Thank you to our longstanding partners who have raised impressive amounts for The Children’s by rallying their networks to support Pedal for Kids.
Members of our Hall of Fame:
1M $ and up
- Banque HSBC
- Borden Ladner Gervais
- RBC
Between $500,000 and $749,000
- Community Ride : Women on Wheels
- Scotia Bank
Need help setting up your team's fundraising page?
This year marks the 32nd edition of Pedal for Kids. Our goal is to support the Healthy Kids Fund.
When a newborn, child or adolescent needs an unexpected treatment that could be the difference between life and death, the Healthy Kids Fund is there to respond to urgent needs at the right time. Your donation will contribute directly to transforming care for thousands of young patients and their families.
ARIANA, A TRUE FIGHTER.
When Ariana was born, she needed neonatal intensive care during her first 5 months of life. She was born at 24 weeks 4 days and she faced many health challenges.
When her parents met with the doctors, they did not know what to expect. They feared for the worst. Anna-Maria and Andrew felt helpless and terrified not knowing how Ariana would survive the first days of her life.
As parents, they knew that the road to recovery was going to be difficult. Never in a million years did anyone think they would be in this situation - fighting for their daughters life! With the amazing doctors and nurses around them, everything would be okay. They guided them through some of the toughest decisions her parents ever had to make.
"Ariana would not be where she is today if it was not for the amazing care she received at The Children’s," says Anna-Maria. "We are forever grateful!"
Today, Ariana is 3 years old and is completely healthy. She is living life to the fullest. She loves to laugh, play and go to daycare with her friends. Ariana continues to inspire and give hope to all around her. Ariana’s hands stole our heart, Ariana’s feet ran away with it!