Despite heavy snows, mud slides and even tornadoes threatening the Iron Ride for ALS, Gibsons' Kevin Mason proudly rode his motorcycle into Vancouver on June 7, having completed a cross-country journey in just 89 hours and 10 minutes with friends Hal Spelliscy and Blane Despres from Kelowna.
The effort raised more than $35,000 for ALS research and the total continues to climb with an on-line donation option still available.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
The Iron Ride for ALS trio set out on what was to be a 5,900 km motorcycle quest from Halifax on June 4, vowing to complete the cross-Canada tour in 90 hours or less.
"It was definitely more extreme than I thought and I think the fatigue was a lot more intense than expected," Mason said, noting the detours encountered by the team didn't help matters.
The first two days of the ride brought more night riding than anticipated due to daytime delays like road construction, which Mason said wore on the riders.
The trio stopped only for short catnaps on the side of the road and quick two-hour slumbers in hotels.
"When you take into consideration we were only there for an hour or two, those were some of the most expensive hotels we've ever had to stay in," Mason said.
Weather conditions became an issue when the team reached the prairies, with word that three tornadoes had touched down along their route the previous day. The riders skirted the storm, but heavy winds threatened to blow them into oncoming traffic and increased their fuel consumption greatly, which led to more delays.
"None of us wanted to push our bikes to run out, but we found out where the end was," Mason said
Next a mud slide closed their planned passage through Golden and other options were ruled out when heavy snow closed some routes.
Finally, in Brooks, Alta. the riders decided to try for Edmonton and a northern route to the Coast, but icy cold winds met the trio and they were forced to stop in Innisfail, Alta. for fear of hypothermia.
All seemed lost for the discouraged Iron Ride for ALS team, but the final day brought a break in the weather.
The riders quickly decided to push on and were overjoyed to make it to the finish line in Vancouver, having driven a total of 6,378 km in 89 hours and 10 minutes.
"Some people have asked if it was fun. That was probably not the right adjective, but it was definitely a very worthwhile cause," Mason said.
He said the team met people all across the country touched by ALS during their quick stops to get food or fuel.
"It was quite amazing that although there's only about 3,000 people or so at one time who have been impacted with ALS in Canada, just the fact that it tends to unfortunately kill its victims fairly quickly, it has a much more wide ranging impact than is often understood," Mason said.
If you want to donate to the Iron Ride For ALS, you can do so on-line at www.ironrideforals.ca.
