Gerry Porter Ride Victoria CCCTS/Grandmothers for Africa 2025

Gerry Porter Ride Victoria CCCTS/Grandmothers for Africa 2025

This year’s ride to honour Gerry Porter, a former Canadian Navy P.E. Instructor and long time CCCTS member took place on July 30. Gerry had originally initiated the ‘Century Ride’ which has continued in some form each year since his passing.

The 2025 Ride took a fresh focus as we determined to use the occasion to demonstrate our support for the Victoria chapter of the Grandmothers for Africa. These cyclists hold an annual month long ‘Cycle Tour’ during which they raise funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s work in Africa. Thirteen of the Grandmothers joined us for this year’s ride and we had about 35 riders in all.

The route took us from the Brentwood Bay ferry to Mill Bay and from there to Bright Angel Park where we enjoyed a superb and unique lunch prepared by chef Bob Louie and the team of Dianne Collier, Donna Kerkhoven and Jim Grayson. The menu featured the much acclaimed ‘Cow Bay Dog’ (Saskatchewan Mennonite sausage in pita bread) served on a platter and complemented with a delicate accompaniment of fresh fruit salad and exquisitely crispy potato chips of the finest quality. Delicious home-made baked goodies and soft drinks rounded out these sumptuous offerings. Funding for the provisions came from an anonymous and very generous CCCTS donor. (Thank you!) All of the cyclists were provided the lunch gratis, but CCCTS members donated a total of over $1400 to the Grandmothers’ cause. A wonderful and worthwhile result and thank you to everyone!

Thanks as well to Maureen Weston, Ride Leader Extraordinaire, who led the brigade with the assistance of Brian Collier, Stefa Katamay, Tory Stevens, Mary Freeman and Don Mais. The cycling groups were very safely and ably led along the lovely pastoral roadways of the Cowichan Valley on a lovely day for a good cause and in fine company. All of which would please Gerry Porter very much.

( P.S. and final Thanks to The Udder Guys Ice Cream and Coffee Shop in Cowichan Bay. They opened up early and were all prepared for our rest and coffee stop en route. Thank you, Udder Guys!)

Submitted by Don Mais