Pedal power put to a good cause

More than two dozen staff members from Sobeys South Brandon went on a bike ride Thursday morning.

They were on the same bike at the same time — in support of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Westman.

As soon as Sobeys franchise operator Ryan Hackett heard about the 30-foot-long Mega Bike coming to the city, he thought it would be great for “team building and a morale booster,” but it was a connection with the non-profit that “hit home.”

“My wife grew up with a big sister, so it’s very near and dear to our heart,” Hackett said after the ride. “And then seeing this opportunity here, we took full advantage of it for the store and my team.

“They just love supporting local events and important causes. So that was the sole reason why, but it was fun, and it turned out to be a beautiful day.”

Sobeys and Cenovus Energy from Minnedosa were the two businesses that donated $2,000 to the local Big Brothers, Big Sisters for the 2.5-kilometre pleasure ride. All the money raised stays in Westman to support mentorship programs.

The 29 pedallers and their driver left the Keystone Centre, turned north on 18th Street, east on Park Avenue, south on 13th Street, up to Richmond Avenue and back.

Along the route, people were honking their horns and giving high fives through their car windows, said Madison Bolack, who rode with her dad, a Sobeys employee.

“It was fun,” Bolak said after the ride. “I was kind of in the middle, and you could feel your own pedal power. When we were going up the hill, I felt like I was the only one pedalling,” she said as she laughed and the others around her joined in.

Kyle Talbot said he has always wanted to try the Mega Bike, and the ride did not disappoint.

“Although I kind of wish you could shift up, because you’re pushing against it and then it would roll away as we got downhill. But we got a good speed, and it was such a good time saying hi to the town as you rolled around.”

Melissa Hollands, a caseworker with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Westman, said she hoped the fun that people had will stay with them long enough to consider signing up.

“We need more mentors,” Hollands said. “We have about 28 kids on our wait list right now, waiting for a big brother or sister.

“And it’s such a good cause. It’s a time commitment of about an hour per week and you can form lifelong friendships and connections with your mentee,” she said.

“It’s certainly something that I feel like a lot of people can find the time to do — spend time with a young person and be a positive influence in their life.”

The 30-seat Mega Bike ride was a one-day event for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Westman, and Hollands said she hoped that if they book it again next year, more groups will want to hop on.

There are eight big bikes in Canada, with five in Ontario and three that are booked from Manitoba to British Columbia, said Bernie Perry, Mega Bike’s western manager.

“This one will do about 30 different places over the course of the summer,” Perry said, nodding to the bike, “and so far, Brandon is stop number six.

“It’s like a 30-foot motorhome with 29 riders and me. It’s got disc brakes, manual steering and of course, pedal power.

“It’s funny to see the looks on people’s faces when they get here and they see how big it is, and they say, ‘Oh, so we all pedal.’ And I say, yes you do. If you don’t, we just sit here,” he said as he laughed.

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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