“This will probably be a bigger challenge than riding my bike from Arizona,” he said, noting that when he’s done the race before, he’s only pedalled two laps. “My goal is to do between eight and 10 circuits in 24 hours this year.”
For that race, Van Tighem said he hopes to have people pledge him for each lap he completes.
The money raised will be added to his fundraising efforts for the MS Society of Canada.
So far this year, with his ride from Wickenburg, Ariz. up Highway 93 to Jasper, he has raised more than $40,000. But that’s not enough—Van Tighem is set on reaching his $93,000 goal.
He’ll also be riding in Penticton’s Granfondo—a 160 kilometre trek that will take him from Penticton B.C. to Summerland, B.C. and back. Last year’s winner completed the race in about four hours. Van Tighem said he aims to complete it in just over five hours.
He hasn’t yet figured out how he’ll turn that ride into a fundraiser, but he’s working on that right now.
Van Tighem has been raising money for the MS Society of Canada for the past seven years. In that time, not including his most recent fundraising efforts, he’s accumulated $145,000 for the society through bottle drives, barbecues and his participation in the Hinton MS Bike Tour, among other fundraising efforts.
To donate to Van Tighem’s cause, visit endms93.com and click the ‘Pledge Me’ tab.
