Bike for a wild life

Times Reporter   

 

The National Bike for Wildlife Program is meant to connect youth to the outdoors, encourage an active lifestyle, and raise awareness for the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s (CWF) conservation programs for endangered species such as grizzly bears and bighorn sheep. From Aug. 14 to Oct. 29, Angella Goran will be cycling roughly 6,800 km from Victoria to Halifax, stopping at schools, camps, and community events to share CWF’s message.

“I think it’s so important for that next generation, and even us, to start to realize: What is life? What is living? I really respect that the Canadian Wildlife Federation has this really cool grasp on the outdoors as a natural playground,” said Goran. “All the resources are there for us, especially in Canada, to go out and explore and have fun.”

When she was growing up, Goran always wanted to stay outside and play; nowadays, parents sit their children in front of the TV or hand them an iPad.

“It’s a cycle,” said Goran. “Is that really what you want? I look at that, with all the health concerns, whether it be childhood obesity or late onset diabetes, whether it be the mental issues and the suicide rates.”

She says that connecting youth with outside and nature lowers all those concerns.

“There’s proven statistics that (say) that getting outside and having fun and enjoying that – especially as a family – encourages lifestyle changes and in Canada, there’s no better playground,” she said. “I can’t even explain what I just saw from Victoria all the way to Calgary.”

Goran owns SokJok, a sponsor of the ride, which runs youth programs in Ottawa. Seeing what CWF did with children, she was inspired to pair with them.

“I saw the message of what they wanted to build their brand to be,” she said. “When I started to realize what the Canadian Wildlife Federation does in Canada, hands down, I was like, I need to get involved.”

As part of the National Women’s Rowing Team for the 2004 Olympics, Goran sustained an injury, and then became addicted to cycling. She was part of the National Women’s Development Team for Velodrome Cycling, has competed in Ironman Triathlon, and raced for Canada’s Long Distance Triathlon Team. She coaches at and owns her cycling studio, Cyclepathic, in Ottawa as well.

“As I started to get to know CWF as a team, I had a good chance to sit down with the CEO,” Goran said. “I said to him, how can my company do more connecting in Canada for you?”

She threw out the idea of a bike ride to do something different, as everyone does runs and walks. He asked her to be the cyclist, and she gladly accepted – it had been on her bucket-list to complete since she was little.

The project has been over a year in the making, with plenty of planning, fundraising and outreach for sponsors. Over $10,000 worth of prizes are available for families on the website.

“I think that the hardest part is, it’s one thing to do the ride and go out everyday, but it’s the engagement and the social messaging,” Goran said, who rides an average of 100 km per day. “You’re trying to eat, you’re trying to sleep; it doesn’t give you a lot of time.”

Only one other person is onhand for support crew, while the rest are working from their offices.

Meeting all the people, while camping out, has been the best part, she says: “I think every single community we’ve been into, it’s just, fantastic to meet people who are doing great things.”

As she pulled into Alberta earlier this month, she mentioned that all the parks they stayed at in British Columbia were full; it seems that CWF’s message may be getting across after all.

“Canada’s a really special place, and we’re really fortunate to have such an awesome country. I think when you think about all the organizations who are doing really good things, I’m really honoured to be doing this for the Canadian Wildlife Federation,” Goran said.

CWF and Goran hope to have raised $25,000 by the end of their ride; they’ve passed $10,000 after just one province. To support them, go to bikeforwildlife.ca and click on the donate button, sign up for a school pledge program, or text “wildlife” to 45678 for a $10 donation.