Mary McNeill
- National: 358th
- Province: 192nd in ON
I'm Riding For
Beckett
Beckett is my friend's grandson. Early this year he was diagnosed with leukemia and is receiving treatment at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. I think of his treatment journey as I journey through my 100 km ride challenge.
My Story
Some of my friends have asked me if I’ll be participating in the Great Cycle Challenge again this August! Yes I am! This is year number seven!
Great Cycle Challenge is a month-long cycling challenge that raises funds to fight kids’ cancers. Funds raised go to the SickKids Foundation. The goal is to fund life-saving research to develop safer and more effective treatments, and find cures for all childhood cancers.
Why? Because cancer is the largest killer of kids in Canada; 27 children are diagnosed every week.
I’m thrilled and grateful for the support from friends, family, and colleagues over the past six years. Your generous donations have raised over $11,500.
I’ve challenged myself to ride 100 km during the month of August, and to raise $2000 in donations. As I ride I think of the kids who are fighting cancer, especially my friend’s grandson, three-year-old Beckett. Their challenges are so much tougher than mine! I’m glad to support this cause—because kids should be enjoying life, not fighting for it!
I would feel honoured to have your support. Check out my Great Cycle Challenge webpage https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/MaryMcNeill where you can follow my progress during August.
To my local supporters: please wave if you see me; it means a lot!
My Legacy
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211 km Ridden$816 Raised2019
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312 km Ridden$1,900 Raised2020
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252 km Ridden$1,416 Raised2021
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251 km Ridden$1,955 Raised2022
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302 km Ridden$2,809 Raised2023
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151 km Ridden$2,627 Raised2024
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48 km Ridden$3,279 Raised2025
My Challenge
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September 1. Final update
2 Sep 2025Time to sum up my 2025 Great Cycle Challenge experience. This, my 7th year raising funds for SickKids Foundation to fight childhood cancer, has been different from previous years.
This year I started out with a goal of raising $2000 in donations. Once again my amazing friends, family, and colleagues contributed over $3200 to the cause – considerably more than in previous years. I thank all of you sincerely. I also thank everyone who sent me positive and encouraging comments.
I have tried not to be discouraged by the fact that I did not achieve my ride challenge of 100 km. In my 6 previous years of Great Cycle Challenge I have surpassed my ride goal, so I guess it’s ok to have a setback once in a while. Most of my riding is on back roads close to home. As I drive around this year I find myself getting nostalgic for some of those past trips. Maybe next year……..
Posted 4 days ago -
August 17 update
18 Aug 2025I write this mid-August update with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I am thrilled that my family, friends, and colleagues are so supportive of my fundraising to fight kids’ cancer. My donation goal was $2000; I have now received over $3000! On the other hand, my ride goal of 100 km is stalled at 48 km.
The sciatica I’ve been dealing with for months has been acting up. At the beginning of August I was doing well and now I can barely walk. But I’m taking things a day at a time and hope to get in a few more kilometers before the end of August. If nothing else, this experience has given me an idea of what the ups and downs of cancer treatment can feel like to a family.
I’d like to give a shout out to another Great Cycle Challenge rider, and work colleague: Shay Pitcher! This is Shay’s second year as a participant. You can follow the stories of what she notices on her rides at https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/riders/ShayPitcher
Posted 19 days ago -
$2,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $2,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved LEGEND LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 23 days ago -
$1,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $1,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved WARRIOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 25 days ago -
August 10 update
10 Aug 2025If you’ve been thinking about making a donation and are waiting for the right time……wait until next Wednesday August 13! That’s “Match Day”, when online donations are matched.
I won’t be riding for the next few days. The weather is just too hot and humid for this old body to deal with. :( So I’ll be resting up, getting ready to take on the remaining 52 km of my challenge later in the week.
Posted 26 days ago -
August 6 update
7 Aug 2025August 6, 2025
Since I’m not doing longer rides this year it’s easy to get out for 10 km or so after dinner. The air is cooler. Today it carried the scent of newly ripened corn.
My sciatica is acting up and it would be easy to say “oh, I’ll just ride another time”. And then I realize that I can put up with a bit of pain in hopes that children like Beckett won’t have to experience the pain of dealing with cancer.
Today’s critter count:
1 small yellow bird, possibly a finch
A group of turkey vultures enjoying a takeout meal. Today I learned that a group of feeding turkey vultures is called a wake.
Posted 30 days ago -
10.8 km ride - into provincial park and back - Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Logged this ride 31 days ago -
August 5 update
6 Aug 2025I added another 10 km today, for a current total of 37 km, with a trip down “Memory Lane” in Constance Bay where I lived for about 10 years. There are usually some great views of the Ottawa River and the Gatineau Hills on the Quebec side but haze from wildfires across Canada kept the visibility poor. I’m glad for the electric motor I had installed on my bike a couple of years ago so I don’t have to breathe so hard going uphill.
My amazing sponsors and supporters, some of whom have followed me since I started this challenge in 2019, help keep me motivated. Your donations, likes, and waves are always appreciated!
Today’s critter count:
2 black squirrels (I’m surprised I didn’t see more; Constance Bay is full of the acorns they love)
1 male deer, his little antlers covered in velvet
Posted 31 days ago -
9.9 km ride - Aug 5 Constance Bay ride - Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Logged this ride 31 days ago -
$500 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $500 to fight kids' cancer and achieved GUARDIAN LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 34 days ago
My Sponsors
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Kick Cancer's Butt Day matched donation
“Here's your matched donation made possible by the generosity of long-time SickKids Foundation supporters, the Garron family. THANK YOU so much for your awesome efforts to kick cancer's butt!”
$769.85Received this donation 23 days ago
Mary
“Thank you for Kick Cancer's Butt Day! I'm amazed at the response it gets. Matched donations put me over the $2500 threshold. I will be ordering a superhero jersey in a small size to give to my friend's grandson who is currently receiving treatment for leukemia at CHEO.”
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Richard McNeill
$517.50Received this donation 24 days ago
Mary
“Thank you for continuing to support me in so many ways”
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Janeen Harman
$274.28Received this donation 35 days ago
Mary
“Jan, I appreciate your continued support. It helps keep me motivated.”
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Shay Pitcher
“GO MARY! The one who inspired me to start the GCC and learn to ride a bike! I wish you the best of luck on your ride this year and a big congratulations for your 7th year of the challenge. You got this!”
$207Received this donation 34 days ago
Mary
“Thanks for your support of my ride again this year! I love reading the reports of your rides. You Go Girl!!”
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Charlotte Leitch
“Way to go Mary.......what a great commitment to Children's Cancer Research ! THANK YOU from all of us who are cheering you and all of the other participants on! Charlotte”
$124.20Received this donation 22 days ago
Mary
“Thanks, Charlotte! I'm grateful for all the support from friends, family, and colleagues.”
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Patsy Weir
“You Go Girl!”
$124.20Received this donation 50 days ago
Mary
“Thank you for your support again this year. It means more than I can express.”
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Valerie Jorgensen
“You go girl! You are an inspiration!”
$103.50Received this donation 29 days ago
Mary
“Thanks for your support again this year, Valerie! I greatly appreciate it.”
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Anonymous
$100Received this donation 8 days ago
Mary
“Thank you so much for your contribution and continued support of my efforts!”
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Karen Dorsch
$100Received this donation 23 days ago
Mary
“Thank you for your support of my cycle challenge. I truly appreciate it!”
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Sarah Mader
“Congratulations on 7 years, Mary! The world is a better place for all your efforts!”
$77.63Received this donation 33 days ago
Mary
“I truly appreciate your continued support and encouragement.”
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Beth Boudreau
“Way to go, Mary! Awesome work doing this ride once again to support the fight against children's cancers. Super impressed and proud of you. We're cheering for you on every kilometre!”
$72.45Received this donation 24 days ago
Mary
“Thanks Beth! You've always been one of my cheerleaders. Now to work on my remaining 52 km when the weather gets better.”
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Janice Bradley-Guillemot
“Way to go Mary!!”
$72.45Received this donation 24 days ago
Mary
“Thank you for supporting my Great Cycle Challenge. I appreciate your encouragement.”
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Julia
“Way to go, Mary! Keep on peddling!”
$72.45Received this donation 29 days ago
Mary
“Thank you for your continued support and encouragement! It means a lot.”
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Deborah Hackett
“Keep on pedaling, Mary, and inspiring all of us.”
$51.75Received this donation 42 days ago
Mary
“Inspiring works both ways. I appreciate your continued support.”
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Kirsten Smith
“Yay Mary!”
$51.75Received this donation 24 days ago
Mary
“Thanks for all your support and encouragement. It's good to know that doing something I enjoy can help others.”
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Laima Cole
“You are so brave to continue in this heat, bravo!”
$51.75Received this donation 25 days ago
Mary
“Thanks for supporting me, and calling me brave. :) I'm sitting out the heat and hope to get a few more kms in once things cool down.”
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Lori Fielding
“You are an inspiration!”
$51.75Received this donation 23 days ago
Mary
“Thanks for your support in so many ways. It's good to know that doing something I enjoy can help others, and to have friends who encourage me.”
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Patricia Dalphy
“Way to go, Mary! This is a great cause, I am happy to contribute.”
$51.75Received this donation 23 days ago
Mary
“Thanks, Pat. I truly appreciate your support and enthusiasm for my efforts.”
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Rev R Susan Smandych
“Donating in honour of my cousin's 6 year old son Nixon who is currently battling a rare form of cancer 🙏 Thank you for your dedication to this important cause! ❤️”
$51.75Received this donation 24 days ago
Mary
“Thanks, Susan, for your many ways of supporting me. Kids should not have to experience cancer, and we hope our efforts make a difference.”
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Vivian Patterson
“Way to go Mom!”
$51.75Received this donation 24 days ago
Mary
“Thanks for being one of my constant cheerleaders! I appreciate all you do.”