Johanna Bertin

I will try to ride 400 km this year, a lower goal than usual, but one that takes into consideration the health challenges that I have had recently. Wishmeluck!

Donate Now

I've Ridden 166.6 km My goal is 400 km

My Rankings

National: 602nd
Province: 14th in NB

I've raised $988 My goal is $2,500 Donate Now

I'm Riding For

Isaac Jewett

A few years ago, Isaac Jewett (my Super Hero) and I teamed up to form Team Isaac. If you do not have experience with cancer, it may be hard to relate to the need for better treatments. As you read his father's post below, you will understand why I get on my bike every day, and ride to raise funds. Isaac has been cancer free for three years now and is living the active life of a fourteen-year-old, playing soccer four times a week. But it was a long and difficult road to get here. With his father Aaron Jewett’s permission, I will share with you what he went through in his treatments. "We are a week away from another trip to Halifax for another treatment. Unbelievably, we are almost a year and a half into the 3 and a half years of treatment. Isaac takes oral chemo daily, which occasionally makes him sick. In Halifax, he will be receiving two 15 minute doses of chemo and then he will be put to sleep for his lumbar puncture, which is when they run chemo through his spine. Then he will have a Medicine called pentamadine which is run through his port for 2 hours and prevents pneumonia in patients undergoing chemotherapy. This is the day that usually makes him sick for a few days after. Anytime anyone asks how Isaac is doing I always say he is doing really good, which he really is. But, I just wanted to take a minute and give him a shout out because he is strong and he doesn't let this drag him down. I see the toll it takes on his body every day, he doesn't always have a lot of energy and his body hurts a lot. He likes to run and race, he takes pride in being the fastest even though his body makes it twice as hard. He is a boy whose body has been pumped full of poison for a year and a half. He hates getting his port accessed and de-accessed because it makes him throw up every time. I've watched him terrified of getting needles to now not even flinching. I've watched him take his medicine twice a day even when he doesn't want to because it tastes horrible. See f/up

My Story

18 Jul 2025

Twelve Years of Gratitude

As I take on the Great Cycle Challenge for the eighth time, I will share my motivation for riding 200 km in the month of August to raise money for Sick Kids Hospital's Oncology Programme.

This spring, I celebrated twelve years since my surgery for ovarian cancer. In 2013, when I was diagnosed, I had one grandchild. I now have four. I would never have had the opportunity to meet and love three of them if it had not been for the excellent medical care I received.

I was present to cheer my daughter Catharine as she rode to an Olympic bronze medal in mountain biking at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and I have celebrated her transition from International cycling competitor to Coach of the Canadian Mountain Bike team.

I celebrated my son Geoff as he gained a Masters in Disaster Management, and is now Deputy Emergency Program Co-ordinator for the City of Victoria, BC.

With my husband Bruce, I have boated on the Amazon and hiked Machu Picchu, in Peru and Torres Del Paine and El Chaltén, in Patagonia. We have cycled throughout Croatia and Cuba, and visited Haiti, Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Roatan. I have driven across Canada by myself and with Bruce.

And I have been able to give back by raising more than $21,000 ($16,083.78 of that through the GCC so far) for cancer research through such events as the Enbridge Ride, The Tour of Hope, and the Great Cycle Challenge. Through Cancer Support networks, I have been able to encourage other women who travel this same journey.

To say I am grateful would not begin to express my appreciation. I truly recognize the gift of time that I have been given and thank every single person involved in my care.

A few years ago, Isaac Jewett and I teamed up to form Team Isaac. (See below.)

My Legacy

Here's my personal impact over 8 years to fight kids' cancer and save little lives.

1,063 km Ridden

$1,850 Raised

2016
800 km Ridden

$1,503 Raised

2017
816 km Ridden

$3,320 Raised

2020
801 km Ridden

$4,034 Raised

2021
Ridden

Raised

2022
808 km Ridden

$5,305 Raised

2023
Ridden

$207 Raised

2024
167 km Ridden

$988 Raised

2025

4,455 km

Ridden

$17,279

Raised

My Challenge

12.4 km ride - Morning Ride - Monday, August 11, 2025

Logged this ride 23 hours ago - View on Strava
25.1 km ride - Morning Ride - Sunday, August 10, 2025

Logged this ride 2 days ago - View on Strava
21.8 km ride - Morning Ride - Friday, August 8, 2025

Logged this ride 4 days ago - View on Strava
12.0 km ride - Thursday, August 7, 2025

Logged this ride 5 days ago
30.4 km ride - Morning Ride - Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Logged this ride 6 days ago - View on Strava
6.0 km ride - Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Logged this ride 7 days ago
22.0 km ride - Morning Ride - Monday, August 4, 2025

Logged this ride 8 days ago - View on Strava
26.6 km ride - Morning Ride - Saturday, August 2, 2025

Logged this ride 10 days ago - View on Strava
10.3 km ride - Evening Ride - Friday, August 1, 2025

Logged this ride 10 days ago - View on Strava
$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 14 days ago
F/up to tribute

18 Jul 2025

continued

I've watched him suffer through headaches and back aches and pains in his legs. He won't take pain meds because that's the one choice he has, he hates medicine. And after all this he still has the biggest smile and when he laughs really hard he sounds like a cross between a monkey and a squeaky wheel on a tricycle. His smiles are priceless. And a shout out to his sisters who have to watch their brother go through this and be helpless because they don't completely understand and want to help him when he's sick. They don't realize how much they help him just by treating him like a normal brother who makes them happy, mad and sad just like a brother should."

If you would like to contribute, please go to: www.greatcyclechallenge.ca, click on participant Johanna Bertin, and please donate. Or, you can catch me around Harvey and donate to me directly. Either way, you will receive a charitable donation tax receipt from the Sick Kids Foundation.

Thank you.

Johanna Bertin

Posted 25 days ago
$250 raised to fight kids' cancer!

I just raised $250 to fight kids' cancer and achieved PROTECTOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.

Posted 25 days ago
$100 raised to fight kids' cancer!

I just raised $100 to fight kids' cancer and achieved DEFENDER LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.

Posted 46 days ago
Present situation

27 Jun 2025

My goal is presently 200 km for this year’s Great Cycle Challenge, rather than my normal 800 km. That is due to the fact that I suffered a heart attack last year when travelling to Iceland to go hiking with my husband. I received excellent health care both at the time, and since then. But, while I have been given the go ahead to cycle, I do need to build condition. I fully expect to exceed that goal, but did not want to get ahead of myself.

Posted 46 days ago

My Sponsors

Catharine Pendrel

“You've got this mom”
$124.20
Received this donation 12 days ago

Johanna

“Thank you very much Catharine. I’ll be stronger with your support.❤️ Mum”

Thank you very much Catharine. I’ll be stronger with your support.❤️ Mum
David Nielsen
$124.20
Received this donation 4 days ago

Johanna

“David, that is do very generous of you. Thank you very much. Johanna and Isaac”

David, that is do very generous of you. Thank you very much. Johanna and Isaac
Geoff Pendrel

“Good luck Mom!”
$124.20
Received this donation 15 days ago

Johanna

“Thank you very much Geoff. Love having your support. ❤️ Mum”

Thank you very much Geoff. Love having your support. ❤️ Mum
Bruce Pendrel

“Such endurance!”
$100
Received this donation 14 days ago

Johanna

“Bruce, you are a gem. Thank you. Johanna”

Bruce, you are a gem. Thank you. Johanna
Anonymous
$51.75
Received this donation 22 days ago

Johanna

“Thank you very much for your donation. It is much appreciated. I hope that some day you tell me your name, so that I can personally thank you. Johanna and Isaac”

Thank you very much for your donation. It is much appreciated. I hope that some day you tell me your name, so that I can personally thank you. Johanna and Isaac
oliver bertin

“Go for it, Sis!”
$51.75
Received this donation 42 days ago

Johanna

“Thank you Oli. It is good to be riding again this year. Johanna”

Thank you Oli. It is good to be riding again this year. Johanna
Pauline Thompson

“Thank you Pauline. Your donation towards children undergoing treatment is much appreciated. Johanna”
$50
Received this donation 8 days ago

Johanna

“Thank you Pauline. Your donation helping children undergoing treatment is much appreciated.”

Thank you Pauline. Your donation helping children undergoing treatment is much appreciated.
Al Thomas

“Thank you for your continued work.”
$46.58
Received this donation 4 days ago

Johanna

“Thank you Al. Your donation is much appreciated. Johanna”

Thank you Al. Your donation is much appreciated. Johanna
Sandra Byers & Larry Heinlein
$36.23
Received this donation 5 days ago

Johanna

“Thank you Sandra and Larry. Your support means a great deal to Isaac and myself.”

Thank you Sandra and Larry. Your support means a great deal to Isaac and myself.
Carol Ann Power
$25.88
Received this donation 22 days ago

Johanna

“Thank you very much Carol Ann for your donation. Your support helps children suffering from cancer. Johanna and Isaac”

Thank you very much Carol Ann for your donation. Your support helps children suffering from cancer. Johanna and Isaac
Norma Wood

“Good luck Johanna!!”
$25.88
Received this donation 23 days ago

Johanna

“Norma, thank you so much for your donation. It, and you, are very much appreciated. Johanna and Isaac”

Norma, thank you so much for your donation. It, and you, are very much appreciated. Johanna and Isaac
Ellen Bell

“Thank you Ellen for your donation helping children with cancer. Johanna”
$20
Received this donation 8 days ago

Johanna

“Thank you Ellen for your donation to help children with cancer. Johanna”

Thank you Ellen for your donation to help children with cancer. Johanna
Johanna Bertin

“Starting the ride off with my donation.”
$103.50
Received this donation 46 days ago

Johanna
Johanna Bertin
$103.50
Received this donation 25 days ago

Johanna