Once again, on the morning of July 7th, motorcycle enthusiasts departed on the 5th Annual REALTORS Care® Foundation Motorcycle Ride for Charity. Proceeds from donations made through sponsoring a rider were given to the REALTOR Care® Foundation.

REALTORS® raise money for the Foundation throughout Canada, where it is in return, given back to the communities to assist in improving the Quality of Life for people in need.

This year, included in the group of riders were Governors of the REALTOR Care® Foundation, David Trick, Past Chair, Don Richardson, Public Governor, Richard Hawkins, REALTOR® Governor and Lynn Martin, Public Governor. Leaving Mississauga, riders are given a police escort as they begin their four day Ontario journey. There were a total of 33 registrants for the four day ride, some riding the entire time, others joined during and participating for the last couple of days. A total of four days and over 2,500 kilometres later, it was marked as a very successful adventure.

Riders take a break and pose for a photo while visiting the Maison Vale Inco Hospice in Sudbury – one of the last years Foundation recipients.

Traveling through Ontario on the four day ride, visits were coordinated with the Mississauga Real Estate Board, Oakville, Milton & District Real Estate Board, Woodstock-Ingersoll & District Real Estate Board, REALTORS® Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound, The Georgian Triangle Real Estate Board, The Barrie & District Real Estate Board, Orillia & District Real Estate Board, Parry Sound Real Estate Board, Sudbury Real Estate Board, Timmins Real Estate Board and Sault St Marie Real Estate Board. Additional donations to the Foundation were collected at these boards bringing the total to over $40,500.00 for 2010.

Also included in the itinerary for the four days were visits to several recipients of Foundation grants. On day one, a visit was made to the Halton Lighthouse Shelter located in Oakville, Ontario. The Halton Lighthouse is an emergency Shelter committed to providing safe, secure, short-term accommodations to individuals who are experiencing some type of housing crisis. Day two brought a stop in Barrie, Ontario and a visit to the David Busby Street Centre.

This shelter’s mission and vision includes improving living conditions for individuals within the County of Simcoe who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.Before departing Sudbury on day three, the group was invited on a tour of the Maison Vale Inco Hospice. Riders take a break and pose for a photo while visiting the Maison Vale Inco Hospice in Sudbury – one of the last years Foundation recipients.

Those at the Hospice are dedicated to providing residential hospice palliative care in the Sudbury-Manitoulin Districts, compassionate support and quality care to individuals and families in a homelike environment. The final day ended in Sault St. Marie with a visit to the Sault St Marie Real Estate Board and a meeting with Algoma Residential Community Hospice representatives. The Algoma Residential Community Hospice is dedicated to providing compassionate end-of-life care to palliative patients and their families. These organizations are not-for-profit and depend on the support from their communities. Through the REALTOR Care® Foundation grants, they have received funds to assist them in achieving their goals.

Leaving Mississauga, riders are given a police escort as they begin their four day Ontario journey.

The goal for the foundation charity ride over the last few years has been to travel throughout Ontario raising the awareness of the Foundation and its goals to the communities, fellow REALTORS® and real estate Boards. In keeping with that goal, the riders who have participated, have visited to date, 33 of the 42 real estate Boards in Ontario. In 2011, the remainder of the boards will be visited. The support and involvement from the real estate Boards and member REALTORS® has been overwhelming and greatly appreciated by all those who participated in the ride. Sponsoring meals and refreshments along the way allows riders to truly donate 100 per cent of the proceeds raised to the foundation. Proceeds resulting over the years from the REALTORS® Care Foundation Charity Motorcycle Ride have averaged approximately $40,000 per year.

All funds donated to the foundation from the ride and also other fundraisers throughout the year are given back to the communities through a grant applied for by organizations from a diverse number of shelter based charities. REALTORS® working in and around their communities donate millions of dollars each year to charities. Raising awareness throughout Ontario is prudent to let the communities know that REALTORS® truly do care.