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8 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, June 13,2000 ~c~ampton Coi ~Restaurateur cooking up $ 10,000 in rally By IRENE GENTLE The Champion H arrop Restaurant owner Robert Goderre did a good thing Iast year and it ended up transforming hîs life. Il started with an offer 10 take part in the 100 km/day 1999 Frienda For Life Bike Ral1y, which took riders from Toronto to Montreal to raise money for the Toronto People With Aida Foundation (PWA). The idea said Mr. Goderre, waa daunting. "t had every reason nos 10 take part. I wasn't fit enough. I waa too old." Iisted a tanned. fit and young-looking Mr. Goderre. "But it ended up being one of the most exciting weeks of my life." Since ridera were required to bring at least $2.000 in donations 10 lIce event. the rally raised some $49,000. That includes ail forma of spon- sorship. Mr. Goderre aigned on juat nine days prior to tIse event but managed to raise $2.200 anyway. "Let me teli you. it wasn't that difficuit," he confesaed. "I cailed family. t calied friends. t called peopie I laadn't talked to in years." And if he could coilect two grand in a utIle over a week, Mr. Goderre figured he'd raise lIce bar knowing lie had a fuli year 10 prepare for the 2000 ride. So he set a goal of $10.000 for the rally, which wiII kick off July 30. Currently. he's about haîf way there. "t wiIl not play amati, If t play, O play big." Mr. Goderre said he hopes to add to hic haul by teaching a Latin dance claas at she Multon GoodLife Fitnesa Club and by hoatîng a fundraiaing dinner at his restaurant. At first, he was drawn to the bike rally because of ita daring. "t loved that they did this in the face of no agreement. Surveys had ahown a bike rally wouldn't take off." Inatead it drew about 30 people, and that num- ber has almost tnpled for this year'a event. Then he found himself amîtten by ita caring. "The camaraderie that developed instantly blew me away," said Mr. Goderre. "Whatever you needed it was always there. O'm now com- pletely drawn by their energy." The ridera, he said, mn the ganiut of gender, sexuat orientation and age. Lad year, about 10 were living with the HtV virus that causes AIDS, and had been for abouta decade. Mr. Goderre found that inspiring. So was the participant who endured the trek despite having only one leg. But if he had fears of being shown up then, they've evaporated. He's also thrilled with the PWA Foundation. "AIl the money we raise goes to their pro- grams. fis doesn't go to administration," he said. "And they're very open to different kinds of therapy." For information about the 2000 bike rally, which bas a goal 10 raise $200.000, cali (416) 506-1400. ext. 31. or look up the website at www.bikerally.org. To make a donation, cati Mr. Goderre as 878-8161, ext. 4. u i COGECO i4 Programmlng Schedule - June l3th, 2000 - June l9th, 2000 A lOin, lia, NoOn P~d n lOin, un, Nom PNd ~ lOin, lino Nom PNujed 10 lOin, 1lun~ p~g~ 5:30,6:30 O:30pa PN4ged 1! -i~!&fu~ ~ ~ 530630O30~n NluO 130t30O.30~n ~ ~ ~ tOflpo Law4ffihheîdle 6~n ISOi5~5 t~t~n C*~mtic1lonm t~tp lOi Loon Oaa oo~ sas s.. WWW.COgSCO.CU 7~un Sw~T* Ls~ Bfitçtn WaNnça Jactai 830rsn ltontsllhltLse 21 Main Street North, toCa,,Pt2 Acton to Com, Pt 1 O~O V5iAifl~6~ hic lent Acton ON L7J iV9 j 519853-1270. or 8534700 Fature tht. woek "War Amp.; Juno to Casn" Part i Tuosday, Spm Part 2: Thursday, Spm.