University team gears up to support the Heart and Stroke Foundation

The cheering of more than 30 University of Ontario Institute of Technology staff members echoed throughout downtown Oshawa on June 21 as the group pedaled a 30-seat bike through the city’s core. The riders participated in an event designed to raise awareness and funds for research to prevent heart disease and stroke. The team collectively raised more than $3,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death for Canadian men and women. Every seven minutes, someone in Canada dies from heart disease or stroke. Donations help fund critical research into heart disease and stroke prevention, life-saving measures, and support for survivors and their families.

“I rode in memory of my grandfather, who died of a heart attack at 68 when I was three,” says the university’s Team Captain Andrea Brown. “My grandfather was a wonderful, kind-hearted man who loved his family and lived to serve others. I wish I had more time to get to know him and learn from him. I wanted to help support the Heart and Stroke Foundation in their valuable work and research, so grandfathers can watch their grandkids grow up and do things like ride on the Big Bike.”

If you missed riding the Big Bike or donating towards the cause, you can make a donation on the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s website.