We managed to make it to the first school without too many problems, other than a few chilly fingers and toes. Hopefully the weather warms up a little after the Easter break.
Our first stop was at Kenner Collegiate where we were greeted by a few hundred secondary school students who packed the bleachers inside the gymnasium. As we have witnessed at every school this year so far, this years video was a big hit with the students. Thanks to Kenner teacher and music composer, Barb Monaghan for writing an awesome song.
After the video our 'morphamaniacs' took over, competing against the students in a tricycle / ice cream eating relay race. We also had the usual head shaves and ice cream eating, handcuffing fun as in years past.
Our second stop of the day was at Kawartha Heights Public School where we were greeted outside by the entire school. This was another stop filled with a wide spectrum of emotions as we remembered our dear 'Special Friend' Sierra. One by one we listened to Emily, Kate, Patricia, Faith, Claire, and Crystal approach the microphone and share in there memories of Sierra.
As Sierra's family looked, we listened to why the students were cutting their hair or shaving their head for Pedal For Hope.
When it comes to remembering someone you have lost, everyone has a different way of doing it. Some, like we seen, remember a loved one by shedding a tear, some, like we seen, remember a loved one by celebrating that person in life, not in death. Sometimes it's best to remember the great memories that we have shared with our loved one, but no matter what way the students of Kawartha Heights chose this day,
the team was proud of everyone of them for honouring Sierra in their own special way. Nobody can tell you how to remember a loved one, everyone has there own special way.As a group, we shared in emotional stories and then we shared in some fun that Sierra herself enjoyed participating in so much, and that was eating ice cream, like any other child.
At the end of the day everyone had a memory of Sierra in their
head, and a Sierra smile on their face, and to our team that is the most important part of this tour that we take so seriously, and we thank Mrs. Payne and Mrs. Brohart for allowing us to be a part of it.
Our third and final stop of the day was at Immaculate Conception Catholic School where again the students braved the cold and the slight rain, just to greet the team as we arrived. As I walked along the fence giving our traditional 'high fives' to the kindergarten students, I couldn't help but chuckle as a tiny student looked up at me and said "I love Gatorade". Here I was standing in front of him with my flashy blue and yellow custom made carbon fibre road bike, custom made cycling suits with our logo on them, funny cycling shoes with even funnier booties over top of them, and all this student seen is a live for Gatorade. Too funny. As I turned around I spotted the Executive assistant for Pepsi QTG and all I could say is "Thanks Lil, if it wasn't for the Gatorade bottle, he wouldn't have never even noticed I was there".
Once inside the show was rocking and hair was flying. Our 'Morphamaniacs' took to the stage and displayed what little
athleticism they have. At the end of the show we awarded a few students with prizes for their fundraising efforts, including top fundraiser Dillon, who took home the IPOD. it was so crazy at Immaculate I had to recruit a helper for next year, Princess Julia is going to help run the music with the team. Looking forward to it !!!
The team has the Easter break off before hitting the roads again on Tuesday. Weather forecast is warm.......yeah !!!!! but rain rain rain..........boooooo !!!!
Let's hope their wrong.
