For the third year in a row, fat bike enthusiasts will be able to go for a ride for a good cause.
The third annual Ride For Jack will take place on Saturday, February 22 at the Boat Launch located at 1016 McPherson Drive in Corbeil.
Once again, Mark Lyons, Jack Lyons well-known father, has connected with cycle enthusiasts Connie Hergott and Rod Bilz from the North Bay Mountain Bike Association in coordinating the fundraising winter bike ride called, "Ride for Jack."
The ride honours Jack Lyons, a North Bay teen who passed away in April of 2022.
Mark Lyons loved when Jack could ride on his fat bike, which makes this event so special for the Lyons family.
Last year, 65 riders participated, but Lyons admits they did not reach their fundraising goal in 2024.
"Mother Nature did not cooperate last year at all, it was crazy," admitted Lyons about conditions that almost caused the event to be postponed.
He is hoping for bright skies and colder weather in 2025.
"The volunteers that groom and the volunteers that help out with Connie Hergott and Rod Bilz they work so hard on this event. We have a lot of action on it, we have more than 20 people registered but there is a lot of hype and a lot of support and I am excited about it. This is going to be our year for sure," he said.
During the inaugural event in 2023, Lyons says they raised $12,500 in funds which went towards One Kids Place Autism Camps.
With the Jack Lyons Memorial exhibition hockey game at Memorial Gardens put on hiatus, Lyons feels this event needs to be successful.
"This is the event that has to move the needle to bring the autism programs at One Kids Place. We are really working hard to keep those programs going, they are funded by the fundraisers we put on, they are not funded by One Kids Place, they are funded by private individuals that donate to this charity," he said.
The cost is $30 per entry fee and will be capped at 100 participants.
Lyons says organizers will have three different riding routes for riders to take on the Stepping Stones Trails.