A8-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, JuIy 26, 2005 Visit us ai U àI B B www.karenstlowershop.com 487 Laurier Ave. 878-2881 Hili set to bike 1,200 km to help save trees Local arbourist will be part of next week's Tour des Treesfundraiser By GILLIAN CORMIER____________ Special ta The ChampionThreiaItlk18 4Ailton's Greg Hill will go NvI the distance for a chance important is becatuse we are to see more green. He will cycle a staggering 1,200 km in the Tour des Trees fundraiser in support of urban tree research. The journey will begin in Jackson, Mississippi and finish in Nashville, Tennessee. Fifty ridera fromt three or four different countries will participate in the six-day event, which will take place August 1 to 6. The 52-year-old arbourist owns and operates Maple Hill Tree Services, and so appreciates the need for research into pre- serving urban trees. "This is the single largest fundraiser for research on urban trees," he said. "And research is the backbone of my industry.". The Tour des Trces fundraiser, put on by the International Society of Arboriculture, has grossed nearly $3 mil1lion US for urban tree research since its inception 14 years ago. Every year tbere's a new route in a different location. Two years ago it was in Canada, with the route beginning in Ottawa, making its way through New York and -concluding in Montreal. Last year. riders raised $500,000 US, and like always, tbey will try to beat that figure this year. Eacb rider must raise a minimum of $3,500 US, and the money raised by Canadian ridera goes into a trust to ensure the funds aid Canadian research projeets. -l do this for two reasons," said Mr. Hill. "One is because 1 believe in tbe cause, and the other is to pusb myscîf." He tbinks it's far too easy to faîl mbt a lifestyle that doesn't make physical fitness a prionity. and docan't want tbat to be bim. There accrus t0 be little danger of that. Mr. Hill began biking the tour in 1996. and this avili be bis sixtb Tour des Trees. As an arbourisi, be feels especially close to tbe cause. "The reason 1 ibink it's importantias because wc're cuitting dosvn tresa at an alanning rate around tbe avorld and replac- ing tberu aith parking lots," he said. As a result. people come 10 depend of urban trces instead of nearby forests. wbich are disappearing, 10 keep tbe air dlean. "Our climate is genting worse, but people unfortunately aren't an concemned," he cutdng do"n taee at an -lrmn rate arouad the woirld and replacing Uhm with paring Iot&"9 said. Tbe warm temperature is very bard on the Centurions -century-old oaks often found along roadsides in Milton -and be bas observed that the tops of these trees bave been dying from drought and poIlu- tion. "One of tbe tbings Fve noticed are the trees we're removing are older, 150 to 200 years old." be said. "Tbey were doing okay until now. lt's aIl happening ai once." A tree will be planted at tbe beginning of eacb day of the race. and the riders will bave 10 bike between 150 10 200 km eacb day to complete the 1,200 km tour in six days. Training bas been a crucial part of Mr. Hill's preparation for the event. He's been riding bis bike daily tbrough Miton's bilîs to get ready. "The escarpment is an awesome place for training," he said. Those hilîs are a geographie approxima- tion of the conditions be will be biking througb in Mississippi and Tennessee. While the event takes up a lot of bis lime. be said tbe cause is important enougb to justify the sacrifice. And he bas fun along the way. 100. "It's not a race, it", a tour, but you put a bunicb of guys on a bike and say 'go' and it becomes a race," he said. Those interested in supponting Mr Hilî's effonts are asked to caîl hiru ai Maple Hill Tree Set-vices ai (905) 824-2 100. Greg HiII's love of trees wIli sene hlm test his stamIna wlth -a gruellng bîke challenge from Mississippi te Tennesee. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE W7rVCOC»FCO f Cogeco Cable Channel 14 Truly Local TIevision www.cogeco.ca NORTH RAITON STUDIO Laurier Plaza 500 Laurier Avenue Milton, ON L9T 4R3 905-878-9306 1 Midnîit-52Sam PIugged lI EXTAS 5 00am tOiam 8 »S - SOipa 5:Opin - 8:upm 8:111pmo 1 ti0pa Midnigt Plugqid n! FOTRA MqpAA lot EXTR Hahn il 11 iS ci PIsugd lI EXTRA Msdîîih 5:nms Pisggîd lI FXTRA 5 tisa t Oam ilCogeco Biliboard & Weather Radio I ua-1 ORpm Plugged in FOTRA 1N»aii - 4:OOpM Hailin tilA Canil Jet il 2m Auipor - U:11pui PtIWd A' DMiI 1i1Mpmn Mita Crieii Ji 18 2 Programming Schedule - Tuesday, juIy 26 - Monday, August 1, 2005 Midoight 5 OSam Plugged Iir EXTRA Midnight 5isam aluggs a'! EXTA 5:OSain- OûSam 5'Cogeci tilîboard & Weather Radio 80am -s 1 0Opa Pîstîli Int EXTRA 1:04m - 4:U1pon Milton Cmoii J.î tua 4:1111111111 -8:04m PAgos In! 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