HARTCycle’s bike ride to stop sex trafficking July 14

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

MUSKOKA — A chartity bike ride that will stop traffic in Muskoka is just weeks away.

The Morning Glory Cycling Club has joined this year’s ride.

A peloton of dozens of riders, led by three-time Olympian Marnie McBean, will cycle district roads July 14 around Port Carling to raise money to stop sex trafficking.

The inaugural HARTCycle’s 75km Bike Ride to #StopTraffick is the second fundraiser here for Toronto’s Kelly Grier and Ashley Wade.

Last summer they held their first successful ride.

HART Foundation, (“HART”, Human Anti-Trafficking Response Team) is a project founded in 2017 by Grier and Wade to combat sex trafficking in the GTA.

HARTCycle is led by Tamara Bahry, who has joined the HART Foundation and launched a “call to action” to support the girls and young women impacted by sex trafficking.

Fraser Chapman, president of the Morning Glory Cycling Club, has also joined the cause.

He says in a release from the group that he was keen to join the efforts of HART after learning of the critical need for rehabilitation services for victims.

This is the second ride put on by the Hart Foundation’s co-founders Kelly Grier, Ashley Wade.

He was inspired after learning from the group of the “alarming statistics” that 92 per cent of trafficked survivors are Canadian citizens, many of them young girls.

And with more than 60 per cent of all trafficking cases occurring in the GTA, it was clear to him this issue requires awareness and funding.

When Grier asked Chapman to champion their inaugural bike ride, he said it was an easy decision.

“We are thrilled to be working with Fraser as a champion for this cause,” says Grier.

“Great supporters are what make it possible for us to work towards our goal of combating sex-trafficking in the GTA and allowing survivors to pursue a life of opportunity.

“Most people feel that they can’t make a difference in the lives of survivors, but the awareness and funds raised from this cycle can make a difference,” added Wade.

“If you can’t cycle, or you can’t donate — start a conversation.”

HARTCycle is one of many events hosted by the Toronto-based non-profit designed to raise awareness and funds to combat sex-trafficking in the GTA.

“I jumped at the opportunity to work with HART. I have three children, including two happy and healthy girls. This one hits home,” said Chapman. “No parent ever wants to imagine that something so terrible can happen to their children— this is the start to ensuring it never does.”

HART relies on the generous financial support of donors to provide survivors of sex-trafficking with the critical services they need. Services include alternative emergency shelter, access to counselling, rehabilitation and medical treatment not covered through government programs.

ABOUT HART:

Foundation HART is a Toronto based not-for-profit charitable organization that provides support to survivors of human trafficking in the Greater Toronto Area. Services such as emergency medical care, crisis housing, and long-term support allow the organization to combat sex trafficking in the Canadian city where it is most prominent.

ABOUT HARTCycle to #StopTraffick:

HARTCycle is a one-day bike ride based in Muskoka. The fully-supported ride will raise awareness and funds to provide critically needed services to young female survivors of sex trafficking.

Up to 150 cyclists will ride through the beautiful roads of Muskoka on July 14thm alongside Fraser Chapman, Founder of Morning Glory Cycling Club and three-time Olympic gold medalist and ambassador, Marnie McBean.

For more information, contact Debbie McGrath at (416) 508 8667 or email her at dmcgrath@peeragecapital.com