YWCA Gear Up Teams Up with RBC GranFondo Whistler
This summer, YWCA Gear Up partnered with RBC GranFondo Whistler as their charity of choice. It couldn't have been a more perfect fit: the program empowers youth by providing skills and training to pursue careers as bike mechanics, and the RBC GranFondo is the most prominent cycling event in Canada.
The months leading up to the race day on September 7 felt like endurance training for the program participants and graduates who volunteered at several pre-event activities. They provided mechanical support during the XFondo in June and Prima Fondo in July and assisted with bike parking at the Shakeout Ride and the VeloSpoke Bike Expo on September 6. Their dedication was evident throughout.
On race day, Gear Up teams started as early as 5:00am, catching buses to their posts to offer mechanical assistance to athletes.
"My bike had serious issues after reassembly from its airplane travel box,” one athlete shared. “(The Gear Up) bike mechanic, Nimrod, took the time to sort it out and corrected a few other issues, all with a smile. The team was friendly and helped with problems big and small. I wouldn't have been able to finish the race without Nimrod's help."
Gray Myrfield, YWCA Gear Up Program Manager, said the partnership is a great benefit to the graduates.
"It lets them engage with the cycling industry, connect with cyclists and build up work experience,” Gray said. “Having a certificate of volunteering for the GranFondo gives these youth a solid leg up when pursuing employment in the industry. Our shop partners are blown away that our graduates were the reason that riders in the GranFrondo were able to complete their race.”
YWCA Gear Up looks forward to inspiring more youth to pedal their way to a bright future in the cycling industry.
RBC has been a dedicated supporter of Gear Up since its launch in 2019, contributing $65,000 this year. To donate to YWCA Gear Up and support this impactful program, please contact Vanessa Wellington-Clark at vwellington@ywcavan.org or 604 895 5826.
