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Father turns tragedy into months-long ride across Canada

On May 17 Rob Hood, along with his son Andrew, dipped their bicycle tires in the Pacific Ocean before starting their journey from Vancouver to Halifax.

On May 17 Rob Hood, along with his son Andrew, dipped their bicycle tires in the Pacific Ocean before starting their journey from Vancouver to Halifax.

Dealing with the tragic death of one of his children, the university professor is riding his bicycle across Canada to raise money for a cause his daughter believed in.

Rob Hood’s daughter Maddie — who worked part time at the United Way — was murdered in July of 2012 in St. Catharine’s, Ontario.

She was looking forward to attending Brock University that fall.

Cycling across Canada gives Hood an outlet to deal with his grief, as well as honouring his daughter.

It also allows him to spend quality time with his son.

“It’s a great opportunity for him and I to build our relationship and learn about each other and take on the challenge together,” said Hood.

Andrew cycled as far as Regina, Saskatchewan and is set to rejoin his father once Hood reaches St. Catharine’s, Ontario.

Prior to her tragic death, Hood was struck by how much his daughter’s work with the United Way in St. Catharine’s made her feel good about her accomplishments within the organization.

“The United Way has really done something for her and allowed her to express her natural tendency to want to help other people and stand up for justice. She seemed to stand up for people who were less fortunate,” said Hood.

He decided to cycle across Canada to raise funds in an effort he calls Ridin' with Maddie, with money put toward a fund started by United Way after Maddie’s death.

“They started a fund immediately called the Maddie Hood fund. The community responded in an incredible way, where there was over $15,000 in that fund in less than a month,” he said.

The money has been used to hire summer students at the United Way branches in St. Catharine’s and Kamloops, British Columbia, where Hood is interim dean of the faculty of adventure, culinary arts and tourism at Thompson Rivers University.

Hood stopped briefly in Sault Ste. Marie last night after completing a leg along the southern shore of Lake Superior.

“Yesterday I had some great country roads in northern Michigan. It was beautiful roads,” he said.

Hood said he often thinks of his daughter when hitting difficult patches in his journey. 

“I reflect on this being nothing compared to what my daughter dealt with in the last breaths of her life,” he said.

Hood hopes he and Andrew can dip the tires of their bikes in the Atlantic Ocean by early August.

(PHOTO: Rob Hood seen at the United Way office in Sault Ste. Marie on Monday morning. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday)


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Kenneth Armstrong

About the Author: Kenneth Armstrong

Kenneth Armstrong is a news reporter and photojournalist who regularly covers municipal government, business and politics and photographs events, sports and features.
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