Shay Pitcher
- National: 1734th
- Province: 935th in ON
I'm Riding For
Maureen Mckenzie
Seventeen years ago our family lost Maureen to cancer. I was just a little kid at the time and I remember the confusion I felt that we wouldn't be able to see her anymore. Maureen was a truly amazing person. She was fun and kind, generous, selfless, creative, spiritual, and always encouraged me to make art. She used to buy me art supplies for my birthdays and at Christmas and she would always write a lovely supportive message to go with them. I never really liked to talk or think about cancer because it would remind me of loosing her. But through this challenge I've relized there is no sense in being afraid to talk about or say the word cancer. So in honor of Auntie Maureen I'm going to help kids kick cancer butt!
My Story
This August, I am taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer!
Why? Because right now, over 1,700 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, and it's the biggest killer of children from disease in Canada.
Kids should be living life, not fighting for it.
So I am raising funds through my challenge to help these kids and support SickKids Foundation to allow them to continue their work in developing treatments and finding a cure for childhood cancer.
Please support me by making a donation to give these kids the brighter futures they deserve.
Your support will change little lives.
Thank you.
Shay
My Legacy
-
215 km Ridden$1,395 Raised2024
-
220 km Ridden$1,118 Raised2025
My Challenge
-
That's all Folks! Year 2 Complete!
1 Sep 2025Well it's official. This morning I went for a 15.2km ride and completed my GCC 2025 challenge! Smashing my ride goal again this year with a total of 220.4km! I'm amazed that I peddled evey single on of those kilometers 😆. Also thanks to my friends, family, and colleagues for your support and encouragement throughout my challenge. It truly means a lot to me that you were just as excited for my challenge as I was. Together we raised $1,066 for Sickkids hospital in their efforts to end childhood cancer and help little kids across Canada kick cancer's butt! So, a big thank you to everyone who donated! You are all awesome! As my challenge comes to a close I think of all the kids out their battling cancer and how hard and scary it must be to go through that. So it fills me with joy to see them smiling and being brave in spite of it all. They are the true heroes of this challenge and we do it all for them. This will be my last post for 2025 which makes me a bit sad. Because so many of you have have told me that you really enjoy reading my posts. I'm glad you've all enjoyed my posts because I enjoy writing them! And there's nothing better than to hear people are reading and enjoying them along with me! Anyway thank you all again for coming along for the ride with me. For today's photo I went down to the Iroquois locks where the big oceanliners come through. I've loved going to this spot ever since I was a kid. So, if you haven't been I highly recommend you go see the beautiful St. Lawrence River and watch the big boats come through. It's an experience you'll never forget! Until next year's challenge see you around!
Posted 5 days ago -
15.2 km ride - Ride Goal Smashed!! - Sunday, August 31, 2025
Logged this ride 6 days ago -
Squirrels Here, There, and Everywhere
31 Aug 2025On today's ride I kept encountering squirrels. Squirrels of every kind! Red, black and grey. They were all bounding across the road around town with nuts or acorns in their cheeks. I guess they're stocking up for the winter ahead. Anyway it was very cute and I loved watching them hop-run across the road. People tend to have a love hate relationship with squirrels. On the one hand they are very cute, curious, and fun to watch. On the other hand you don't want them moving into your attic! That being said I'm very much on the "love" squirrel team! I've always really enjoyed them. They are very clever and resourceful creatures which I respect! Anyway end of squirrel rant. Yesterday I gave a TED talk on spiders and today I babble about squirrels. What will tomorrow's post be about? It's anyone's guess really but, *spoiler* it will be my last post of the challenge. Now enjoy this picture I took of this bee on a sedum plant!
Posted 6 days ago -
10.0 km ride - Riding in the Rain - Saturday, August 30, 2025
Logged this ride 7 days ago -
I Had a Hitchhiker!
29 Aug 2025You know what I was not expecting to climb over my pedal and onto my shoe during my ride today? A spider. That's right! There I was stopped at an intersection waiting to cross and as I looked down a medium sized house spider was sitting casually on my shoe. I use to be very afraid of spiders for the better part of my life. I use to get my mom whenever there was one in my room well into my adulthood. When I lived in Ireland for a year there was a spider the size of a plate living in my room. It had big legs! Like some kind of buff spider that goes to the gym and never misses leg day. Needless to say I slept with lights on for a year. Anyway after that traumatizing experience I mostly got over my fear. Anytime I saw one at home or at work I just remembered what my mom always told me. She said "Don't worry about the spider they're eating all the scarier bugs you don't want to see". So, now when I see a spider inside I either leave it be or help it get outside. For my hitchhiking spider friend I stopped further down the road and enticed it to hop onto a stick instead of my shoe. Then placed the stick in a dry spot so the spider wouldn't get wet. We have to learn to live alongside nature not against it. With that thank you for coming to my TED talk about spiders and enjoy today's picture. It's the button my mom made me last year during the Paris Olympics! I conside him my riding buddy 😊.
Posted 8 days ago -
13.6 km ride - 2 days to go! - Friday, August 29, 2025
Logged this ride 8 days ago -
The Little Pear Tree That Could!
27 Aug 2025During my rides I've noticed a lot of apples falling off trees and littering the road. It can be interesting trying to dodge them all. But it also smells wonderful! The weather is getting cooler and fall is upon us. Which also means pear season! Nearly my entire life we have had a pear tree. Every year without fail it would produce so many pears we didn't know what to do with them all! I remember my parents trying to MacGyver a pear catching basket out of a pole and an old coffee tin to reach the pears at the very top. The tree is about 26 years old and still isn't a very big tree. But a few years ago during a bad storm it was hit by lightning and one of the main limbs fell off. After that our little tree didn't look very good and we were worried we might have to take the rest of it down. But nature is an amazing healer so, we left our little tree alone and waited. It tried to grow pears but they never got bigger than your thumb and theyd fall off really early in the season. However, not this year! This year our little pear tree is back in action! Loaded to the brim with healthy giant pears! We've been collecting them and happily smiling at our beautiful tree. I'm glad it made it through. It's a part of our family in more ways than one.
Posted 9 days ago -
13.8 km ride - Busy Traffic! - Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Logged this ride 10 days ago -
$1,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $1,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved WARRIOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 10 days ago -
75% Done!
25 Aug 2025As of today I only have 47.2km left to go! I'm so excited to reach my ride goal! I'm really proud of my improvements this year with my rides. Last year my average daily ride was 7km or 8km but, this year I've been averaging 10km - 12km a day! I'm already thinking about my ride goal for next year if you can believe it. 250km anyone? Everyone in my house is very excited about my challenge this year including our cats! So, join Puff in celebrating 75% completion of my ride goal and wave your hands (or paws) in the air like you just don't care 😆🥳
Posted 12 days ago
My Sponsors
-
Kick Cancer's Butt Day matched donation
“Here's your matched donation made possible by the generosity of long-time SickKids Foundation supporters, the Garron family. THANK YOU so much for your awesome efforts to kick cancer's butt!”
$149.47Received this donation 23 days ago
Shay
“Thank you to the Garron family for matching donations again this year. You are awesome!”
-
Anonymous
$124.20Received this donation 10 days ago
Shay
“Thank you whoever you are for your support in the fight against kids cancer!”
-
Mumzie
“I'm so happy you are continuing your bike challenge for another year! It's inspiring to see my beautiful girl doing something good for herself and supporting such an awesome charity at the same time! I look forward to hearing about your rides each day. GO SHAY!!!”
$124.20Received this donation 33 days ago
Shay
“Thanks for the support and encouragement Mumzie!”
-
Wayne & Delia Lusk
“Go Shay Go! Happy biking! xxoo”
$103.50Received this donation 31 days ago
Shay
“Thanks for your support and encouragement Grandma and Grandpa!”
-
Susan Elsdon
“Good luck Shay! I love reading your posts :)”
$100Received this donation 23 days ago
Shay
“Thank you for the support Susan! I'm glad you enjoy my posts! I love writing them! 😊”
-
Greg Eatherley
“Way to go Shay! Almost there, keep up the great work!”
$72.45Received this donation 16 days ago
Shay
“Thanks for your support and encouragement Greg!”
-
Mary McNeill
“You're rockin' it!! I love reading about your exploits on your rides close to home.”
$72.45Received this donation 24 days ago
Shay
“Thanks Mary! I also enjoy reading your updates! The critter counts are my favourite part! Happy riding!”
-
Katrina Shea
“Way to go Shay! Ride on!”
$51.75Received this donation 13 days ago
Shay
“Thanks for your support and encouragement Trine! Love that picture of Ally! 😊”
-
Linda Watters
“Good Luck Shay! What a great achievement! Linda”
$51.75Received this donation 9 days ago
Shay
“Thank you for your support and encouragement Linda! I'm going for the goal!”
-
Mary MacDougall
$51.75Received this donation 24 days ago
Shay
“Thanks you so much for your support Mary! I hope your recovery is going great!”
-
Shay Pitcher
“Let's Kick Cancer's butt!!”
$51.75Received this donation 24 days ago -
Wendy Fuller
$51.75Received this donation 3 days ago
Shay
“Thanks for your donation to help kick cancer's butt Wendy! 😄”
-
Ruby
“I think your story of how you learned to ride your bike for this challenge is inspiring! It is very brave as an adult to say you don't know how to ride a bike. People assume everyone learns to ride a bike when you are a child. I hope other adults who want to learn to ride will see it's possible. Don't be embarrassed, just go for it, I't so FUN! Thanks Shay!!”
$41.40Received this donation 24 days ago
Shay
“Thanks for your donation on kick cancer's butt day!!”
-
Nesia Saparno
“Keep up your hard work Shay! Hope you surpass your goals!!”
$25.88Received this donation 13 days ago
Shay
“Thanks for your support and encouragement Nesia! I'm going to smash that ride goal!”
-
Shannon MacGillivray
“Go Shay!!”
$25.88Received this donation 31 days ago
Shay
“Thank you for your support Shannon!”
-
Eileen S
$20Received this donation 31 days ago
Shay
“Thank you for the support Eileen!”