Posted by Don Evans
Sunday, July 9 - it was an early start to the day as we headed off at 5:00AM to Brentwood Mall in Burnaby to participate in the registration and send off for the Rotary Club of Vancouver's Bike Ride for Hearing. 
This was the 33rd annual Bike a Thon for the Rotary Club of Vancouver. Registration went smoothly thanks to all the Rotarians and volunteers, and at 6:00AM,  142 riders were off for the annual 120km ride to Harrison. Later in the day we also headed to Harrison to meet the riders and to participate in the Don Waters Celebration Banquet and awards. It was a great event, and the banquet was officially named in honour of long time Vancouver Rotarian Don Waters who over the years has been the ride's volunteer stalwart and raised an incredible amount for hearing. Don is no longer able to attend due his ALS, but his spirit is always with the ride.
 
The riders are amazing, and by the time the banquet was done over $150,000 was raised towards the support of hearing loss and prevention. The largest team fundraisers (over $30,000) were "Gears for Ears", which includes the doctors from the Rotary Hearing Centre, while the largest individual fundraiser was Rotarian Barbara Welsh who raised over $19,000 and received the Don Waters Special Achievement Award.
 
What a great Rotary event this is.