A Masonic Shriner cycled his way through Chatham-Kent this week preparing for a major fundraiser later this month.
Starting on June 28th, Bruce Shrine Club Noble Alex Rauket will be riding 850 kilometres over eight days to raise money from Saugeen Shores to Montreal Shriners Hospital.
The two-day promotional test run this week from Grand Bend to Chatham totalled out at 150 kilometres per day.
Rauket says the demands of the several-day cycling journey are new to him.
“This is the first time I’ve done something quite this long so I’ve just been riding a lot trying to eat really healthy…its going pretty well.” says Rauket.
He notes that the Shriners Hospitals make all the difference in children’s and their families lives.
“When I became a shriner one of the gentlemen joining the shrine was a former hospital patient, and through my job I’ve met a number of people who have been to the hospital.” Says Rauket. “Just life changing stories, all of them.”
The fundraiser Kilometres for Kids hopes to raise money for the Shriners Hospital for Children Canada. As of June 3rd, they have raised over $14,000 and have an end goal $50,000.
“Part of the idea of this is to raise awareness of what the Shriners do and why they do it with maybe a different demographic that might not have been aware of it.” says Rauket. “It encourages men my age to get involved and help out.”
Shriners describe themselves as a philanthropic fraternity based on the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth.
Those looking to donate can do so at www.bruceshrineclub.ca.
