Memories of father inspire fundraising efforts

Christina Menssen doesn't have a bike yet, but she will in time for the Ride for Heart event in June.

In the meantime, the North York resident has already started her fundraising efforts to raise $1,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

"I've been wanting to do this in honour of my father," said Menssen, who grew up in Weston for about 16 years before moving to Downsview where she's lived for the last decade.

As a young girl, Menssen said she never really wanted to discuss what happened to her dad.

But recently, she decided to open up through her health and fitness blog, The Athletarian, about her father who passed away from a heart attack when she was just eight years old.

"I can't bring him back but I can keep him in my thoughts and remember him for the amazing father that he was," she wrote this past November.

Menssen also mentioned in the blog entry her involvement with the Ride for Heart event this year.

While her family and friends have been supportive, Menssen has also been getting support and encouragement from the online community.

A woman in the United States, who owned a company that made headbands, pledged to donate a dollar for every headband she sold in a two-week period.

"I've never met this woman," said Menssen, who appreciated the random acts of kindness from strangers.

Currently she's almost halfway to her fundraising goal with $415 raised to date. To donate, visit her blog at www.theathletarian.com

It won't be her first time riding along the traffic-free Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway scheduled for June 3 this summer. She did it once as a girl with her mother.

Menssen said she's more of a runner and doesn't even own a bike, but she will before the big event.

Registration is still open for anyone who wants to participate in the 25th anniversary of the Becel Heart and Stroke Ride for Heart with three sets of rides available at 25k, 50k and 75k.

About 13,000 cyclists registered last year and raised $4.1 million.

"Our goal this year is $5 million," said Teresa Roncon, senior manager of public relations for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Ontario. "We started as early as possible this year."

The money raised goes toward life-saving research and health promotion, noted Roncon, adding that heart disease and stroke take one in three Canadians before their time and is the number one killer of women.

For more information or to register, visit www.rideforheart.ca/