Ride for Refuge raises $32,000

By Dave Flaherty/The Oshawa Express

Six local and two provincial charities will reap the benefits of hundreds of people hitting the streets of Oshawa.

The Ride for Refuge, hosted by The Refuge Youth Outreach Centre in Oshawa, saw 130 participants while raising $32,000

The ride featured 10, 25 and 50 km cycling routes and for those without a bicycle, a five km walk.

Organizations benefiting from the event were The Refuge, Safehope Home, the Pregnancy Help Centre of Durham, Clarington Migrant Worker Outreach, St. Vincent’s Kitchen, Back Door Mission and two larger provincial charities, Christian Horizons and the Global Youth Volunteer Network.

Clarence Keesman, executive director for The Refuge, notes the name of the event is somewhat of a coincidence and the local event is part of a larger national effort that is held in 25 locations across Canada.

It was expected that more than 6,000 participants will attempt to raise $2 million collectively for 190 different organizations throughout the nation.

Praising the “model of togetherness” the event promotes, Keesman feels that is lacking in today’s society.

“There is far too little of a sense of community with organizations who work together in Durham Region,” Keesman states, adding that these concerns crossover into the community in general.

“I can’t put my finger on it, but I don’t know if we care beyond the walls of our own homes. It’s becoming more and more prevalent.”

To paint a picture of what he truly means, Keesman recalled recently seeing a man on Taunton Road in Whitby attempting to push his car off the road after it overheated.

“Hundreds of cars passed him, pedestrians passed him. Nobody but me stopped to help, to at least help him get off the road. Twenty years ago…I don’t think he would have had a problem.”

With the charitable pot seemingly getting smaller and smaller, Keesman believes collaborative fundraising may become more prominent in the future.

“I can’t say for sure, but I hope so. We are all part of the community.”

Kitchener-based registered charity Blue Sea Philanthropy, approached The Refuge to take on organizing the event earlier this year, Keesman noted.

The Refuge also partners with Blue Sea Philanthropy on their winter fundraiser, Coldest Day of the Year, which raised approximately $71,000 locally and $4 million across Canada.

“They knew about the work we’ve done, we’ve partnered with them. They were looking for a charity and they came to us because we have a pre-existing partnership.”