Sault woman joined by daughter, fellow bicyclists for children’s cancer research (3 photos)

For Sault Ste. Marie’s Jocelyne Brazil, the fight against children’s cancer is personal.

“I had a nephew, Cory, who at the age of six was diagnosed with leukemia. It wasn’t a good diagnosis, but he survived it and he’s now in his 40s, so I ride in honour of the fight he had when he was a young boy,” Brazil said, speaking to SooToday.

Brazil began her Great Cycle Challenge Canada bicycle journey, a national fundraiser dedicated to children’s cancer research held every August, outside the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library (James L. McIntyre Centennial Library branch on East Street) Sunday at 8:30 a.m.

She was joined by five other cyclists, including her daughter Meghan, cheered on by friends and family as she headed out on her journey from the library parking lot.

It’s the first leg in her 100 kilometre local bicycle journey to raise funds for children’s cancer research.

It’s Brazil’s fourth consecutive year as a participant in the fundraiser. 

In addition, Brazil is dedicating this year’s ride to another nephew, Danny, who is currently fighting leukemia as an adult (Danny a U.S. resident).

All funds raised by Great Cycle Challenge Canada participants nationwide go to child cancer research and treatment at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

“It’s so these poor little children don’t have to suffer any more than they do as children, never mind fighting with cancer,” Brazil said.

“Kids have enough growing up these days without the extra fight with cancer. It’s such a difficult situation to go through. Most kids that go through it are so brave when they go through this, the treatments, the needles and everything else. My poor little nephew, I felt so bad for him. They don’t understand what’s going on with their bodies at that age.”

Brazil plans to cycle 100 kilometres locally throughout the month of August, aiming to do eight to 10 kilometres per ride.

From the library Sunday, she planned to cycle along The Hub Trail to Carmen’s Way, then stick to the back roads and finish off at her home near Korah Road. 

“I hope to do 10 kilometres three or four days a week,” she said.

Brazil hopes to raise $2,000 in funds (or more) for children’s cancer research this year, having already raised almost $1,400 by Sunday morning.

“Anybody can join,” Brazil said.

“You choose your own kilometres, your own fundraising goal, and I’ve chosen 100 kilometres, outdoors...anybody can join, it doesn’t have to be done on an outdoor bike, you can do it on a spin bike, an indoor bike. You can do 10 kilometres, you can do 100 kilometres, there are people across Canada who are doing thousands of kilometres this month. One guy in Toronto is doing it on a unicycle.”

Brazil emphasized ‘outdoors’ for her own ride, as she underwent two knee joint replacement surgeries six years ago.

“As the knees got worse I did less and less, and then when Dr. (Bradley) Slagel, who was my surgeon, cleared me after the surgery and said ‘you can do whatever you want now,’ I thought ‘I’m going to start doing more.’ I joined a gym, got a little bit more active and at the age of 60 I bought a bicycle and started riding outside (after using an indoor exercise bike).”

“Then I saw, on Facebook, a post for the Great Cycle Challenge to help fight kids’ cancer across Canada.”

Brazil took part in the Great Cycle Challenge for the past three years, prior to Sunday’s ride.

“Most of my kilometres were done on a stationary bike at the gym and I did a few kilometres outside, and this year I’ve challenged myself to ride 100 kilometres outside.”

“It helps me keep fit as well. I want to enjoy my own life. After I had my knees done I realized I can do things I was never able to do before. I can enjoy this. It’s fun,” Brazil said.

“I went through Facebook, placed phone calls and emails (inviting others to join her bike ride). My daughter’s very involved with Instagram so she put a big post out. I’m pretty proud of all my friends.”

Brazil was joined in her trek by daughter Meghan and fellow bicyclists Doug Carpenter, Jerry Jones, Richard Maltby and Mike Bruno. 

It was Carpenter’s second time joining the Challenge, Jones’ sixth, Maltby’s second and Bruno’s first. 

Brazil said she is part of a local Challenge group, which includes 170 riders.

The Sault Challenge group has raised over $21,000 so far in 2021 for children’s cancer research, she said.

Anyone wanting to help the cause may go to the Great Cycle Challenge website and click on ‘donate.’

“It's to help those kids fight, to get rid of this disease, this cancer...I think it’s important to get the knowledge out there, that there are a lot of kids fighting cancer, that we’re losing a lot of kids to cancer, and the more funds we raise for research the better,” Brazil said.