'Cure this dreaded disease': Sikh Motorcycle Club rides for annual diabetes fundraiser
Dozens of members from the Sikh Motorcycle Club came from across Ontario including Ottawa, Southwestern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area to participate in their annual event, Ride for Cause.
The event is to raise awareness and money to help find a cure for diabetes which has become a growing concern in the country.
"In Canada we have 11 million Canadians with diabetes or pre-diabetes. This is a crisis of our time and to have the Sikh Motorcycle Club fundraise to help end diabetes is just a wonderful thing," said Grant Maltman, Curator of Banting House National Historic Site.
He adds one in three Canadians is diagnosed with diabetes.
The ride started at 11 a.m. Saturday morning in Brampton, ending at the front steps of the Banting House National Historic Site in London, the birthplace of Insulin 100 years ago this month.
"When we discovered insulin 100 years ago here, we shared it with the world. And I think we need to take that leadership role again to do more for diabetes and cure this dreaded disease once and for all," said Jagdeep Singh, Spokesperson for Sikh Motorcycle Club.
Members celebrated their ride with speeches, pictures, a sugar-free cake and a cheque presentation to Diabetes Canada for $113 thousand from Sikh Motorcycle Club chapters across the country.
"What we’re doing for diabetes Canada, is just a drop in the bucket. The real struggle is of the kids who actually are fighting with diabetes every day. People who have been affected with this dreaded disease," said Singh.
One of those children struggling is Bronwyn Kerr, 13, who was diagnosed with Diabetes at just four years old.
"It was hard at first, getting used to having needles all the time and constantly worrying about how many carbohydrates are in everything," said Kerr.
Kerr says she is touched with the efforts the Sikh Motorcycle Club is putting in to help find a cure for her disease.
She hopes that cure will come soon.
"It would be awesome, I could eat a lot more candy," said Kerr.
Until then, the Sikh Motorcycle Club and Diabetes Canada continue to ask Canadians to help support their cause by donating to the foundation.
You can find out more information on ways to show support here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.