Gilles Larose has been cycling since he was 18 years old. Now, at 63, Larose cycles about 10,000 kilometres every year.

Over the next three days, he will add 567 km to his 2011 total as he bikes from The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto to The Montreal Children’s Hospital as part of the CIBC 401 Bike Challenge.

“I do this to help the kids,” said Larose, who just returned from a 20-day bike trip through Italy. He doesn’t have a connection to SickKids but recognizes the importance of giving: “I am lucky, I have one healthy son who is now 26 years old.”

Larose will ride beside 25 other cyclists participating in the Bike Challenge. The participants are from Ontario and Quebec and have a variety of reasons for taking part.

The CIBC 401 Bike Challenge has a mission to give children battling cancer and their families the hope, care and treatment they deserve. Through The Sarah Cook Fund at Cedars Cancer Institute, the funds raised will support the haematology/oncology divisions at The Montreal Children’s Hospital and SickKids. To date, this event has raised $50,000 for SickKids.