Victoria man cycles for 24 hours straight to fundraise for dad diagnosed with ALS
Ian is riding his bike on a journey that began not on the street, but in the backyard with his dad.
“We were always playing sports,” Ian smiles, recalling how they’d shoot pucks and throw baseballs in the backyard.
Before that, his dad would taking him hiking. There are pictures of Ian as a baby poking his head out of a backpack.
“It was awesome,” Ian adds. “Some of my fondest memories as a kid.”
As an adult, Ian still finds it fun to push himself physically, his dad Ross says.
“He’s an extremely hard worker,” Ross smiles. “Very focused.”
Ian was focused on his life moving forward — at work as a firefighter, at home as a father and husband — when suddenly all he could focus on was a phone call from his dad.
“It was emotional,” Ian says. “Nobody ever wants to hear their dad has a terminal disease.”
Ross was diagnosed with ALS. He was slowly losing control of his muscles. And the son who’d always looked for help from his dad, started focusing on finding help for him.
“One thing my dad always taught me was be positive,” Ian says. “And have a positive attitude.”
So Ian decided to try and raise money for ALS research by cycling around the city for 24 hours straight.
“I’m just blown away,” Ross says of his son’s plan. “Totally blown away.”
Ian began with the overnight leg of the ride, cycling 300 kms around the Victoria Airport for 12 hours straight.
“It was cold. I was tired,” Ian says. “Was getting pretty delirious.”
But Ian kept going, riding around Greater Victoria for another 12 hours straight. He reflected on how his discomfort couldn’t compare to what his dad was enduring.
“It wasn’t really a question of if I was going to do it or not,” Ian says. “I had to do it.”
By then, Ian had more than surpassed his goal of raising $18,000.
After Ian had cycled non-stop for 24 hours, riding almost 600 kilometres straight, the dad he’d done it all for embraced him at the finish line, overwhelmed with gratitude.
“I’m so proud of Ian,” Ross says, fighting back tears. “It’s just a swelling in your heart. I don’t know what else to say.”
What can you say when you see that the baby you once carried on your back had grown up to become the man who’ll always have your back?
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.