How 30 Concordians rode one bicycle and raised more than $25,000
With blue ponchos covering their burgundy and gold T-shirts, 30 Concordia staff, faculty and students would not let rain dampen their spirits on Friday as they rode through downtown Montreal, cheering and singing, on the Mighty Bike — a bicycle built for an astonishing 30 people.
The Concordians rode the custom-built bike as part of Pedal for Kids, a week-long fundraising initiative in support of the Montreal Children’s Hospital. The university raised more than $25,000 — the second-highest contribution of the 29 teams that took part — of the effort’s $425,000 total.
“It was fantastic,” says Ida Giannelli, an employment assistant from Human Resources who was among the organizers of Concordia’s team. “We thought the rain might be an issue, but it was even more fun than in the sun. Everyone was into it.”
Over the course of the afternoon, the bike took the Concordians from the corner of Tupper and Lambert-Closse streets up to Ste-Catherine Street, which they rode along until they reached McGill College Avenue. From there, they turned onto De Maisonneuve Boulevard West and rode west to Awater Avenue and, finally, back to their point of departure.
Giannelli became aware of the Mighty Bike six years ago, as it rode past Concordia, music blaring, to the cheers of onlookers. After learning it was part of a fundraising endeavour for the Children’s Hospital, she thought that Concordia should take part. The following year, it did, and now, the university is still participating in the event.
“We have fun doing it,” says Eva Ferrara, coordinator of the Department of Supply Chain and Business Technology Management, who organized Concordia’s team alongside Giannelli. “It brings the community together for a great cause.”
Sandra Romanini, coordinator of the Department of Finance, echoed Ferrara’s sentiment. As the mother of three young children, she is familiar with the hospital’s services. And with more than $7,000 to her name, she was the event’s top fundraiser.
“A lot of my colleagues have young children, too,” Romanini says. “They feel the same as I do — the Children’s is crucial to Montreal.”
Among those to take the Mighty Bike’s saddle for the first time this year was Alan Shepard, Concordia’s president, who received a generous donation from the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada in recognition of a talk he gave on May 22.
To raise money, the team also held a bake sale, raffle and silent auction in May. The three events brought the members closer together as they worked toward a cause that resonated with all of them.
“Kids don’t choose to be sick,” Giannelli says. “One thing that we can do is help. All the money we raised goes towards equipment and whatever the hospital needs. That is our motivation.”
Concordia’s riders included David Allen from the university's recycling crew; Roula Athanasatos from Human Resources; Marcel Blais from Human Resources; Tanya Chomyk from Human Resources; Frederick Clayman from Financial Services; Donna Craven from the John Molson School of Business (JMSB); Pina Di Maio from Advancement and Alumni Relations; Eva Ferrara from JMSB; Ida Giannelli from Human Resources; Kathleen Glustein from Advocacy and Support Services; Barbara Henchey from JMSB; Sabrina Hickey from Human Resources; Alan Hochstein, a JMSB faculty member; Ellie Hummel from the Multi-faith Chaplaincy; Jian Jiao from Advancement and Alumni Relations; Sophie Johnson from Advancement and Alumni Relations; Stéphanie Johnston from Health Services; Marie Jolicoeur from Human Resources; Doina Lecca, a part-time faculty member in the Department of Education; Javier Lee from JMSB; student Laura Lerman; Gabriella Manconi, an executive assistant with the Commerce and Administration Students’ Association; Jay Mazzamauro from Human Resources; Anna Michetti from Human Resources; Sharon Nelson from JMSB; Sandra Romanini from JMSB; Alan Shepard, Concordia’s president; Nancy Stewart from JMSB; and student John Wanjiku.