Cycling event to remember Const. Marc Hovingh
Almost 10 months to the day that Const. Marc was killed, family, friends and even strangers will cycle both on Manitoulin Island and virtually Saturday.
It's the first annual Marc Hovingh Memorial Island Ride.
“It’s a great fundraiser just for youth who are in need,” said Lianne Hovingh, Marc’s wife. "It can be anything from shoes or winter coats, extra tutoring or help with going to university."
While it’s free to participate, those taking part are being encouraged to make a donation to the OPP Youth Foundation.
“(It) funds disadvantaged youth,” said Const. Marie Ford, of the OPP Manitoulin detachment. "It helps them realize their potential. It really assists the OPP in creating good, positive relationships with youth."
Lianne Hovingh said the event is a fitting tribute her husband.
“He would just be that really good listening ear and would always make himself available for youth who were in need and that’s just Marc’s heart," she said.
"He just loved to help. He, just in his quiet way, he would make a big impact on youth's lives but never in the forefront, never for everybody to see. It was actually more after his death that I would hear from family members (about) the difference he would make.”
Cyclists will travel 33-136 kilometres on Saturday. The hope is to continue the event for years to come.
“It's an incredible chance for us to just get the wind on our bodies, get some exercise and just remember an incredibility wonderful man who we miss so much,” said Ford.
Hovingh said she wishes there was a better way to express how she feels rather than just thank you. She said the love and support both her and her four children have felt since Marc’s passing has been surrounding them.
“It’s just so greatly appreciated," she said. "It has definitely lifted us up and yeah I just can’t thank everybody enough and I do just want to thank everybody from the bottom of my heart.”
For more information on the ride or to donate to the OPP Youth Foundation click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
BREAKING McGill University seeks emergency injunction to remove pro-Palestinian encampment from campus
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.