25/04/2025 8:39 AM

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George McDougall High School bike-a-thon aiming to break $1 million fundraising goal this spring

Just $35,000 is needed for George McDougall Superior College to smash their 10-yr fundraising intention of $1 million, a purpose that is certainly achievable according to the trainer organizing the Experience of the Mustang bike-a-thon.

George McDougall High College college students will be using towards their million-greenback objective all through the 10th full-scale Journey of the Mustang charity bike-a-thon occasion, held from April 12 to 14.

George McDougall Higher University set the intention to elevate a total of $1 million by yr 10 of the yearly event, which did not happen thanks to the fundraiser’s cancellation in 2020 and a downscaled version in 2021.

“2020 really should have been our 10th journey and we must have damaged $1 million, but COVID-19 came rather, so we failed to have a experience that calendar year,” explained Kelsey Ahluwalia, a instructor at George McDougall Large Faculty and the Ride of the Mustang organizer. “This calendar year we’re counting as our 10th ride due to the fact it really is the 10th yr we have truly been in a position to hold the function.”

To arrive at their $1 million mark, pupils have to elevate a full of $35,000 this year, and Ahluwalia hopes to surpass that intention.

Teams of 8-to-twelve pupils will ride on stationary bikes in the fitness center for the duration of the 48-hour bike-a-thon, with proceeds supporting the Alberta Children’s Medical center.

“I believe the most vital detail [the event] teaches learners is that the earth is more substantial than just them and that they can do much more to give again than just emphasis on themselves,” Ahluwalia claimed.

George McDougall’s faculty source officer and quite a few students to start with appeared into a identical event in St. Albert to locate out how they could established up a equivalent initiative in 2011, ahead of obtaining out a college student at George McDougall Superior College was identified with cancer. In help of that university student, the to start with Ride of the Mustang arrived jointly.

“That’s how it started off, but we now will not just aim on oncology, it goes a lot more to Children Encouraging Children [at Alberta’s Children’s Hospital],” Ahluwalia explained. “It goes to the healthcare facility for research and gear, and variety of whatever is actually necessary.” 

Ahluwalia noted there are a number of students at the university who go to the Alberta Children’s Hospital reasonably often.

“We determine this is the greatest way we can assistance them and [show them] they have a community powering them,” she mentioned.

To honour the that means of the party, pupils display who they are using for close to the gymnasium or on their bikes. This can differ from near spouse and children users like grandparents or cousins, to mates.

“It retains it focused on why we do it,” Ahluwalia included.

The Experience of the Mustang, a title based on the George McDougall Substantial University mascot, is a substantial college culture occasion, Ahluwalia stated. It brings pupils together throughout distinctive passions and athletic abilities.

“Instead of [playing] on distinct sports groups or not becoming athletic, it receives us all with the exact same concentrate and any person can take part,” she spelled out.

The local community has been included in past bicycle-a-thons at the higher faculty, with company groups and even neighborhood paramedics and RCMP members biking alongside college students. Sadly, the uncertainty close to COVID-19 limits intended the faculty could not prepare for as a lot local community involvement as standard this yr.

Numerous neighborhood organizations sponsor the annually bicycle-a-thon, but students also do a good deal of their own fundraising top up to the function, such as bottle drives, bake sales, babysitting, or asking relations for assistance.

The most the amount of money elevated from just one year was just about $155,000, which implies the $35,000 necessary this year to arrive at the $1 million mark is definitely achievable, in accordance to Ahluwalia.

The bike-a-thon will take location at the superior school gym from April 12 to 14. Donations can be designed on the internet at mcdougall.rockyview.ab.ca/mustang