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
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.