Fifty-nine Canadian firefighters passed through Belleville Thursday on their way to Ottawa on a fundraiser bike ride to raise money for the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
They began their ride Wednesday in Hamilton.
So far, the firefighters have raised $50,000 of their $100,000 goal.
The firefighters riding today stopped briefly at Belleville Fire Station 1 at the corner of Bettes Street and Station street for lunch and a rest before continuing their journey.
Firefighters, riding from Hamilton to Ottawa to raise money for the Canadian Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation, gather outside of Belleville Fire Station No. 1 before departing towards Kingston. Photo by: Alan-Michael Steele, Quinte News
One rider, Allison Ryckman-Chisholm, says there’s a personal connection to why she’s riding this year.
“I had a captain pass away from Glioblastoma, the brain cancer, he died very suddenly on the job. He was not yet retired. His name will be going on the plaque this year.”
The riders are continuing from Belleville to complete today’s leg of the journey in Kingston, with plans to depart on the final leg to Ottawa tomorrow and arrive in time for the Annual National Firefighters Memorial, which is resuming in-person ceremonies after two years of COVID disruptions.
The Canadian Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation, the charity that will be receiving the proceeds, hosts an annual memorial for firefighters who died in the line of duty, and also provides support to the families of those firefighters, through social support programs and bursaries.
Kevin Connolly, administrative officer for the Canadian Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation says firefighters face serious health risks on the job.
“Mostly when we talk about occupational diseases related to the job, they are specific kinds of cancer that are tied to the different things that firefighters inhale over time at events,” said Connolly. “Lately we’ve found out that firefighters and their equipment contain potential carcinogens that affect a firefighter’s health.”
The Annual National Firefighters Memorial will be held on Sunday.
