News
Did you know it is a volunteer committee that plans the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride? Tremendous thanks to Alex Khan, Andi Davies, Jill Grant, Kelly Rusk, Marcie Dumais, Maureen Wagner, Ocean Varney and Patti Fletcher.
Thank you, Telus! It is great that your giving programs benefit local charities like ours.
Thank you to United Way and to donors who direct their United Way donations to YANA.
Our appreciation to the Navy League Cadets who fundraise for YANA and show great dedication to what they believe in.
Thank you to Bruce and Judy Wing for hosting the 1st Tuesday Fundraisers at The Mex and to Café Ole who dedicated their musical talent to YANA.
Thank you to Roy’s Town Pub for their involvement in the It’s Not Just Beer, It’s Love fundraiser.
We loved seeing the 2016 Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride video up on the big screen at the Comox Valley Airport!
A cyclist, a fundraiser, and a very nice story
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Perry Feltham from Madman McKays is gearing up to do his 4th Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride on Sunday, August 21st. Madman Mckays have been hosting weekly barbeques on Saturdays to raise money for YANA. Feltham has also been raising funds privately as he and his wife will be participating in the 100km ride.
Feltham, an avid cyclist, has been a long term and regular patron of Simon’s Cycles.
“When Simon’s got on board with this annual cycling fundraiser and asked us to help with the training rides, we were happy to get involved. My wife and I have done many rides for different organizations over the years so it was natural to help locally in this way,” says Feltham.
What he didn’t anticipate was how affected he would become by being part of the event. He recalls stopping to refill his water bottle at a convenience store in Cumberland on one of his rides. The young lady at the cash register asked about his cycling jersey and he told her about the YANA Ride.
“Her face changed and her eyes welled up with tears,” recalls Feltham. “She said ‘I can’t tell you how much that means to me.’ And she told me her story and what YANA meant to her family, and when I came back outside my eyes had tears in them.”
Feltham and Madman McKays have been supporting the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride ever since.
“It’s just something you know is right, right for the community and right for us.”
To support the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride and pledge a cyclist click here.
Pumped about the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride
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We might not be as tough as the crew at Simon’s Cycles but we are equally pumped about the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride on August 21!
Registration will be open until 11:59pm Friday, August 19th OR until such time as we have 600 cyclists. No registration will be accepted on ride day.
You can help us reach our fundraising goal of $45,000 for YANA families by riding with us or by pledging a cyclist.
Find out everything you need to know about the Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride through our registration and pledging site.
P.S. Yes, there will be tattoos at the event! Come to Marina Park in Comox on August 21 to get one for yourself and to help us cheer on these big-hearted cyclists.
Coffee With Marcie Dumais
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The Comox Valley is getting ready to ride for YANA, and You Are Not Alone executive director Marcie Dumais couldn’t be happier.
The fourth annual Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride goes Sunday, Aug. 21 at Marina Park in Comox and Dumais, an avid cyclist herself, says all indications point to another fun and successful fundraiser.
“We have incredible sponsorship. Our goal this year … was to try and ensure that sponsors cover all event expenses, so that all the ride participation and any fundraising that’s done by cyclists goes directly to our program.”
Dumais grew up in Oliver, B.C. and lived there until going to the University of Victoria. “I fell in love with the Island,” she says.
“I trained as a teacher and taught in the Comox Valley for a few years. I went to do my masters (in resource management) at SFU then through odd circumstances ended up back in the Valley. My husband is from here…what a great place to raise our family…so we’ve been here since 2004.”
She became involved with YANA seven years ago when attending the auction at the group’s gala event. “I was so impressed with the cause and all the volunteers,” she says. “The ability to make a difference in your community, that’s what continues to drive what I do today.”
She joined YANA’s board of directors in 2011 then stepped up to become executive director in 2013 when Anita Brassard took a job with another foundation.
When she’s not guiding YANA, Dumais loves photography, cycling and “just being active in general – ‘fitness lite,’” she laughed.
Family is also important. “We spend a lot of time on west coast, Tofino. That’s something close to my heart. My husband surfs, I tend to boogie board with the kids. They’re a big focus of my life right now because they’re little.”
Dumais describes herself as a facilitator of fun. “I love games. Recently we had a board social and I was in charge of games. We had the board dressing up and eating chocolates with crazy big oven mitts on.”
Dumais’ efforts are certainly appreciated by YANA president Judy Cryer. “We’re so lucky to have her. She’s amazing. She goes way above and beyond.”
YANA supports families who must travel to receive medical attention, and the annual bike ride is one of their biggest events. More on Simon’s Cycles YANA Ride and the amazing work the organization does is at www.yanacomoxvalley.com