As the leaves begin to change, the Pembina Valley is settling into a new season that brings with it beautiful weather. For anyone looking to spend some extra time in the great outdoors during this brief autumnal window, Eden Foundation has the perfect opportunity — the Head for the Hills cycling fundraiser on September 14th.
According to Quinn Friesen, the events coordinator at Eden Foundation, the Head for the Hills fundraiser has occurred every year for over two decades.
“This year will be our 22nd annual Head for the Hills event,” she says. “It's huge — 22 years [is a] long time to carry on a fundraising event. It's not very common to carry on something so big, but it's a very important one.”
Friesen adds that some participants in the fundraiser have been there for its entire run.
“It’s fun,” she says.
The Head for the Hill fundraiser takes place on the Cripple Creek Festival grounds located 1.4 kilometres directly south of the Glencross Church on road 27W (southeast of Morden). The day, which will get its start at 8 a.m. and conclude around 1:30 p.m., consists of a cycle ride and lunch before closing off with prizes and final remarks.
“I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone arrive [and] get excited,” says Friesen. “That atmosphere at events is huge — you feel everyone just wanting to be a part of it.”
Friesen is also excited to try one of the fundraiser’s beloved traditions, fries made by Crystal Spring Colony.
“I have heard a lot about these fries,” she says. “[Crystal Spring Colony] comes with their fryers, and they make homemade fries . . . . It's maybe ridiculous, but I cannot wait to taste [them].”
As far as who can join in on the ride, anyone with a bicycle (or tricycle, or unicycle, Friesen says) is encouraged to participate.
“Anyone can do it. You just need to know that it is not like . . . Winkler — this is not flat, this is rolling hills,” she says. “It is absolutely beautiful. You are right in the Pembina Valley, and so there is constant scenery that is changing.”
The Head for the Hills fundraiser has two routes.
“There's the trail . . . that goes on the Trans Canada trail. I haven't been on it, but I hear it's pretty amazing,” says Friesen. “Then there’s the gravel route.”
In preparation for the fundraiser, the Trans Canada trail has seen some updates, including fixed bridges along the way. As for the gravel trail, it’s approachable, but cyclists should be aware that the rolling hills offer a bit of a challenge. The first hill especially may be a little daunting, but there is an easy solution for cyclists — walk the bicycle to the top, and then carry on riding.
Friesen says that cyclists who have participated in the event before are already showing their excitement for this year’s iteration of the fundraiser.
“They cannot wait to get on that trail. They are so excited,” she says. “They are constantly encouraging [me]. Anyone I've spoken to so far has just been telling me, ‘no matter what, it's going to be great.’”
The Head for the Hills event will feature prizes — some bicycle related, others not — from various businesses in the community. There will be two BMC bicycles donated by Crystral Springs Colony, and Back Alley Cycle in Altona has supplied a vehicle bicycle rack.
There will also be a weekend getaway at a house in Pelican Lake, an inflatable boat donated by Canadian Tire, as well as coolers, Thermacell mosquito repellents, bike gear, a retro popcorn maker, premium lawn chairs, blankets from Prairie Sky Promotions, and gift cards from plenty of businesses in the region.
The team who has the highest fundraising amount will win a plaque, and the individual with the highest fundraising total will select one of the top prizes.
“[I can’t say enough about] the amount of support we've been getting from local businesses,” says Friesen. “We can't do this without the local support. [It has] made this event happen, . . . so thank you."
Funds from Head for the Hills goes toward the services and programs at Eden.
“Our fundraising events are very, very big portion of supporting the programs that we have within Eden, and so when we collect all those funds, each program does . . . kind of like a bursary [application],” says Friesen. “They write in what they need for the year, and we try to grant that, so the more money we get, the more we're constantly able to meet their needs. It's actually [extremely] important that we do as much fundraising as we can [to] get as much support as we can.”
Friesen says that the funds go to about half a dozen programs at Eden that strive to provide wellness services to the community. For Friesen, fundraising with Eden is a direct line to becoming involved in something that is sometimes difficult to navigate.
“Mental health is so unseen. You can't see it, and that's scary, and I think that's what hits people really hard when something tragic happens, because they [think], ‘I wish I would have seen the signs.’ There are not always signs to see, and so that's why [we] want to be proactive. [We] want to do the things that [we] can — whatever it is — to support the person [and] support the programs,” she says. “[It] doesn't even have to be financial . . . . You can be an activist, and you can support your friends, and you can . . . help us advertise for events.”
For more information about Eden’s Head for the Hills fundraiser and to sign up, see the event on the foundation’s calendar here.
~With files from Jayme Giesbrecht~