Monday 26 January 2015

Becel Heart&Stroke Ride for Heart 2015

Every 7 minutes someone dies from heart disease and stroke in Canada. That's why I am fundraising for the Becel Heart&Stroke Ride for Heart on Sunday, May 31, 2015 to support heart and stroke foundation. However I am also doing this for 2 other reasons. I want to ride my bicycle on the Don Valley Parkway and I want to get into shape.

First I would like to talk about the Heart and Stroke foundation which has contributed a lot for Canadians to support treatment and assist in prevention of heart attacks and strokes. If you check the impact page you will read that they prevent deaths of more than 69,000 Canadians a year. If you think that the number is quite a big, It would be bigger if not for the prevention program that they run. Another thing I found out was that they contributed to the first ever heart transplant in Canada and were instrumental in many prevention programs to reduce heart related diseases by 75% in Canada. They even tell you where the money goes that you donate on the your donation at work page that outlines the details of the programs that they have succeeded. They have some interesting free eTools available for assistance with prevention of heart related diseases at their etools page. Check it out.

The Ride for heart is great event as there are professionals and amateur cyclists who participate in the race. they have 3 races 25km, 50km and 75km. I will doing the 50km and I am excited to bike on Don Valley Parkway. Those who are not familiar with Don Valley Parkway. It is a main highway in Toronto that connects to the Toronto downtown to rest of GTA and as per law you cannot cycle or walk on it. This is the only time you can cycle on it and I am all for it. I do need to train as 50KM bike ride is tough for me at the moment.

When I was a kid I used to cycle almost everyday in Nairobi, Kenya. It would be my sister, my neighborhood kids and myself we would cycle through valleys, hills, tarmac roads, rough roads and pathways. While doing that without realizing I ended training my body with a great amount stamina and very strong lower body strength. I want to get that back.

Today I work more the 8 hours a day in front of a computer talking to customers over a phone doing IT Technical Support. Without doing the same workout I grew unhealthy and out of shape. I want to get into shape so the easiest way is to take on a regular physical activity that will allow some cardio and some muscular workout. So I started walking every lunch hour and also changed my diet by reducing fatty, salty and carb filled food items and adding more healthy balanced meals. I am a vegetarian but that mean nothing in terms of health if all you eat is chips and drink pop. Now I want to go to next level health with a regular cycling workout so I will train for this ride but also continue it after the event.

So in all this I need your encouragement and assistance in support Heart and Stroke foundation please donate at my Personal Donation page at http://support.heartandstroke.ca/goto/vivekmistry

If the donations match or exceed $1000/- I will give a one of a kind handmade art piece to the top contributor and if there is more than one top contributor then I will run a lottery give the winner the art piece. I will announce the winner on the 1st June 2015 after the event as that is the day when they close the donations as well for the event. This is open to everyone even if you not in Canada I will ship this to you wherever you live. 

You will have to wait for further Updates as I am making this art piece and I will reveal it in the next few weeks. Details to follow.