‘Real and meaningful’

Dear Editor:

An open letter to the community.

Thank you all for turning an idea into something real and meaningful. 

To the organizers who met month after month to plan the inaugural Ride to Remember and Renew fundraising cycling event, to the volunteers who stepped forward to bring those plans to life, to the riders and fundraisers who embraced the opportunity to give back and to the sponsors whose generosity helped cover costs: thank you. Each of you has shown what is possible when a community comes together with purpose, compassion and hope.

At first, a hospice and a trailway may seem like unlikely partners. Yet when we look more closely, their connection is both natural and powerful.

The trailway is free for everyone to use, just as hospice care is provided at no cost to those who need it. Both, however, depend on ongoing community support to meet their operating needs. Both offer comfort, reflection and respite from the demands of a busy world. They create space to pause, reflect, connect with nature, and remember what matters most: our relationships, our well-being and the strength we find in one another.

Today’s success reminds us that neither of these treasured community resources can thrive on goodwill alone. They need our time, voices, generosity and continued commitment. Every donation, sponsorship, volunteer hour, shared message, and act of encouragement helps ensure that comfort, care and connection remain available to all.

Let us carry the spirit of our Sept. 19 cycling event forward. Together, we can support the trailway, strengthen hospice care, and continue building a community where no one walks – or rides – their journey alone. Thank you for your generosity, compassion, and for showing the extraordinary difference a caring community can make.

Sarah Gower, Ian MacRae and Alan Simpson,
Elora Cataract Trailway and Aboyne Rural Hospice Association