WATERLOO, Ont. -- An Ontario police officer's charity bike ride to raise money and awareness for women's cardiac disease has ended just two days after it began.
Waterloo regional police say Sgt. Peter Viol had planned to bike across the Appalachian Mountain Range but was injured in a fall from his bike.
Police say Viol's planned 3,000-kilometre trek begun in Sylacauga, Ala., but he badly injured his shoulder near the Alabama-Georgia border.
He managed to pedal the approximately 30 km to Cedartown, Ga., where doctors advised him to discontinue the ride.
Viol had planned to ride to upper New York State, over to Kingston, Ont., then back to Waterloo Region.
He has been taking part in charity bike rides for the past 10 years, riding a total of 17,000 kilometres across the United States and Canada and raising more than $200,000 for health care in Waterloo Region.
"There are no words to describe the disappointment I feel at this moment," Viol said Tuesday in a statement.
"This is the first time in 10 years that I have had to discontinue a charity ride for any reason.
"My goal was to raise funds and awareness for an important cause, and I truly hope I can continue those fundraising efforts despite being unable to finish my ride."
