‘You have to hold on to life’: Montrealers pedal for a cause, en route to $525k goal

Through three action-packed days in downtown Montreal, more than two dozen corporate teams powered the 30-seat Mighty Bike through the city’s financial district to raise $525,000 in support of the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

“Over the years, it’s gone to life-saving equipment, it’s gone to the environment of the hospital, the bottom line is to make the kids, sick kids’ lives better,” said Michael Conway, the founder of Pedal for Kids.

Celebrating their 34th year, Pedal for Kids has raised over $15 million since its inception, with this year’s funds going to a new state-of-the-art Dentistry Clinic, which is designed for their most vulnerable young patients.

“The old Dentistry Clinic has been around since the 1950s, it’s the biggest one in Canada,” says Anthony T. Pepper, committee chair with Pedal for Kids.

One of those patients is this year’s spokeschild, William Côté-Gilbert, who says it was an honour to share his story. He was unable to attend his scheduled honorary ride due to surgery.

“It would be nice for the children to help other children. I think it’s good to help other children,” he said.

Côté-Gilbert added, “I think I mean, you have to hold on to life. You have to give life a good life.”

Côté-Gilbert’s condition is responsible for epilepsy, movement disorders, and developmental delay. He was born with no reflexes, unexplained fevers, and extreme sensitivity to touch. Once he and his mother Stéphanie Côté went to the Children’s, pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Drouin linked his asthma to hidden allergies. Shortly after, neurologist Dr. Maryam Oskoui diagnosed him with a rare SCN8A gene mutation.

“He’s been through a lot of challenges, but he’s got such, so much goodwill, and it just makes all of us feel so good to be raising money for a child like that who’s got all these challenges,” said Pepper.

“We mothers aren’t doctors, but we know our children. You always have to believe in our children that there is hope at the end of the tunnel. Basically, it’s, as I might say, never giving up and believing in ourselves,” said William’s mother Stéphanie Côté.

Côté adds that there are both good and bad days and often feels helpless, yet she says their story gives hope so other families feel less alone.

Conway notes that he started Pedal for Kids in honour of his late daughter Meagan, who had complications with her heart. He says each year more and more riders join, with this years’ having over 500.

Conway credits the tireless efforts from volunteers and thanks the philanthropic efforts from various companies and associations.

“It’s a long-running fundraiser and we would love for everyone to help raise money for the cause,” said Conway.

As of Thursday, $392,000 has been raised, and they’re still accepting donations online.

“We are healthy. They are not healthy. They have tremendous challenges. But it’s just incredible the resilience they have and their parents have,” said Pepper.

“We’re always looking for new teams. So I put the challenge out to Montreal to come and join us. There are community teams, there are corporate teams and it’s really not that difficult to raise money because it’s such a good cause, it’s for the kids,” said Pepper.