TORONTO, ON --(Marketwired - July 19, 2016) - Over 250 riders and crew will be cycling for six days during a 600 km journey to Montréal in PWA's Friends For Life Bike Rally and in support of the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA). Joining them this year, will be nearly 50 riders participating in a 1-day, 108 km ride to Port Hope.
Supported by a volunteer crew, riders will leave Allan Gardens in Toronto on the morning of Sunday, July 24, and arrive in Montréal on the afternoon of Friday, July 29. Riders participating in the 1-day ride will also leave Toronto in Sunday, July 24 and arrive in Port Hope that afternoon to an arrival celebration and participate in evening activities before returning to Toronto.
This year, the Bike Rally is expected to raise over $1 million for PWA. The largest AIDS fundraiser of its kind in Canada, the annual event has raised over $14 million over its 18-year history and has become the sustaining fundraiser for the Toronto agency. PWA is the largest direct support service provider for people living with HIV/AIDS in Canada, providing such services as meal and food programs, treatment and therapy programs, and financial assistance.
Scotiabank returns as presenting sponsor of the Bike Rally for the 9 th year.
"Scotiabank is proud to sponsor the Friends For Life Bike Rally, which raises much needed funds and awareness for an important cause," said Ajay Mundkur, Senior Vice President, Toronto Region at Scotiabank. "The commitment, enthusiasm and tenacity of the riders is inspiring as they undergo this impressive trek. We are looking forward to cheering them on along their route to Montreal."
Photo opportunities will be available during departure ceremonies and as riders and crew leave on their life changing journey.
What: PWA's Friends For Life Bike Rally Where: Allan Gardens, Carlton Street and Sherbourne Street, Toronto When: Sunday, July 24, 2016 Time: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Departure Ceremonies Schedule
8:00 a.m. Departure ceremonies begin with group photos
8:30 a.m. Speeches
8:45 a.m. Group stretching
9:00 a.m. Departure! Riders and crew will depart Allan Gardens, North on Homewood Avenue to Wellesley St. E., East on Wellesley St. E. to Parliament St., North on Parliament St. to Bloor St. E., to Danforth Avenue and leaving the city's downtown core.
The Bike Rally will travel through the following communities:
Sunday, July 24: Toronto, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Port Hope; Monday, July 25: Port Hope, Cobourg, Colbourne, Brighton, Consecon, Picton, Adolphustown; Tuesday, July 26: Adolphustown, Bath, Amherstview, Kingston; Wednesday, July 27: Kingston, Gananoque, Mallorytown, Brockville, Maitland, Prescott, Johnstown; Thursday, July 28: Johnstown, Cardinal, Iroquois, Morrisburg, Long Sault, Cornwall, Lancaster; Friday, July 29: Lancaster, Rivière-Beaudette, Coteau-du-Lac, Notre Dame de I'Île Perrot, Beaconsfield, Dorval, Montréal.
About PWA's Friends For Life Bike Rally
PWA's Friends For Life Bike Rally originated as a 6-day, 600 km bike ride from Toronto to Montréal. New for this year, the Bike Rally has added a 1-day, 108 km bike ride from Toronto to Port Hope. Now in its 18 th year, the Bike Rally is the sustaining fundraiser for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA) supporting its ability to provide critical services and support to individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Toronto. To learn more, visit www.bikerally.org .
About the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA)
PWA is the largest direct support service agency of its kind for people living with HIV/AIDS in Canada. PWA engages people living with HIV/AIDS in enhancing their health and well-being through practical and therapeutic support services and broader social change, and inspires them to live into their dreams and discoveries. PWA aims to enhance awareness, resilience, strength and knowledge among the members of its immediate community and in the broader social world. To learn more, visit www.pwatoronto.org .
About Scotiabank
Through our global community investment strategy, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2015, Scotiabank contributed $67 million to help our communities around the world.
Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia-Pacific. We are dedicated to helping our 23 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 89,000 employees and assets of $895 billion (as at April 30, 2016), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (
Media Contact: Allan Hooey Co-Chair Friends For Life Bike Rally 416-823-6125 cochairs@bikerally.org Todd Davies Co-Chair Friends For Life Bike Rally 416-525-3506 cochairs@bikerally.org Jeffrey Graham Media and Communications Friends For Life Bike Rally 647-965-0771 media@bikerally.org William Axelrod Media and Communications Friends For Life Bike Rally 647-500-1750 media@bikerally.org Murray Jose-Boerbridge Executive Director PWA 647-226-5777 mjose@pwatoronto.org Mike Twamley Director, Philanthropy and Communications PWA 416-895-9033 mtwamley@pwatoronto.org Erin Truax Public, Corporate and Government Affairs Scotiabank 416-471-5714 erin.truax@scotiabank.com
