In the weeks that precede the departure of hundreds of fundraisers on bicycle travelling 600 k from Toronto to Montreal, there is always a huge amount of planning. Participants seldom see the work organizers do behind the scenes, and so at the arrival of the pre-departure "Big Meeting" event I am always honoured to be part of just a glimpse! The 2023 Friends for Life fundraising bike rally had many "uphill" challenges for organizers, greatest of all perhaps being concerns about the heat. As well, air quality issues had become a top concern. Consistently, leadership responded by hiring emergency crews to accompany the riders and designating a specialized volunteer vehicle to further support everyone particpating in the event. The implementation of these and many others measures resulted in a fun and successful rally with confident particpants and crew. I am always proud to do graphic recordings with the F4L Bike Rally. Graphically recording the 2023 "Big Meeting" event when so many concerns had to be addressed was a truly inspiring experience. The leadership at the foundation was unwilling to move forward until every contingency had been covered. Thankfully, they did an amazing job of this task and the fundraising journey was a success.
