Kalynn Sawyer Helmer
Record Staff
MORRISBURG — The annual Bike-A-Thon Plus fundraiser for Dundas County is coming up on Sat., May 26. The event raises money for the Children’s Treatment Centre in Cornwall and will help with getting Dundas County children, in need of help, to and from the centre.
The centre helps children who have been abused, or are abusers. Counselling is offered to the children free of charge and is not subsidized by government funding. Coordinator for the Dundas County fundraiser representative, Douglas Grenkie, said how important it is for the community to raise money and help out.
Grenkie, who is a lawyer with offices in Morrisburg and Chesterville has been able to see the results personally and said the centre offers a fantastic service.
The event features three options, cycling, walking or the ceremonial walk. The two former begin at 10 a.m. Cyclers will bike along the river from the Docksyde to the Iroquois Lock while walkers can go as far as they choose. The ceremonial walk will start at noon and will go from the Docksyde to the United Church. There will be stations along the route with oranges and water for participants.
In the past, Grenkie said that North and South Dundas have had separate events, but Grenkie said the idea is to raise money as one county. The event is open to everyone and Grenkie hopes to see a strong North Dundas presence.
Each year the event raises between $5,000 and $10,000 and Grenkie has been involved in the tradition for about eight years now. Pledge sheets are available at Gorrell, Grenkie and Remillard in Morrisburg and Cass, Grenkie and Remillard in Chesterville as well as the Bank of Montreal branches in Finch, Morrisburg, Winchester and Iroquois and from the Lions and Leos Club members. Pledge sheets can also be downloaded from the Children’s Treatment Centre website, www.childrenstreatmentcentre.ca. The centre services all of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry as well as helping children in Prescott, Russell and Awkwesasne.