Peter Sinclair (left) and Robin Dutton (right) bombed along Nanaimo's trails for 24 hours, saving Aesop Ridge for around midnight. (Loaves & Fishes/Facebook)

By Spencer Sterritt

marathon

24-hour bike ride boosts Loaves & Fishes summer fundraiser

Jun 23, 2021 | 12:01 PM

NANAIMO — An annual fundraiser for Nanaimo’s food bank is set to have its most successful year yet.

Peter Sinclair, executive director of Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank said the annual Food4Summer event is on track to raise the most money ever.

Donations were boosted by a 24-hour bike ride Sinclair and Robin Dutton of Coal City Cycles took over the weekend through Nanaimo’s trails.

“We took it slow and steady,” said Sinclair, who’s previous longest bike ride was 14 hours. “What got to me was the sleep deprivation, when it’s 3 a.m. and you just want to take a nap was the hardest for me. Overall we had a great time and had great support.”

The duo started by summiting Mt. Benson the morning of Saturday, June 19 before coming down Chainsaw Ridge and bounding through the south Benson trails, which are among some of the most technical in Nanaimo.

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The vast Doumont mountain bike trails west of Brannen Lake home to steep and technical terrain were conquered around midnight.

“That’s got some dicey stuff on it but we got down unscathed and had a good time.”

The 24-hour ride replaced an annual fundraiser Coal City Cycles does of letting people demo bikes in exchange for a food bank donation.

Bikes couldn’t be donated this year due to the pandemic and an extended bike shortage.

Sinclair said more than $6,000 was raised as of Monday, June 21 and more donations were expected to come in.

Loaves and Fishes turns every $1 donated into $5 worth of food.

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt