Ride for a Friend raises $10K for Tyler Leduc
By: Sudbury Northern Life Staff | Sep 30, 2014 - 11:13 AM |
The annual Ride for a Friend fundraiser brought in $10,000 to pay for treatments for four-year-old Tyler Leduc, who lives with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Supplied photo.
Thanks to The Independent Motorcycle Corporation's annual Ride for a Friend fundraiser Aug. 16, the family of four-year-old Tyler Leduc was presented with a cheque for $10,000.The yearly event raises funds to assist a local child with the expenses associated with the treatments and therapeutic devices required for their specific health condition.
At age of one, Leduc was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. A few months later, the little boy was also diagnosed with epilepsy. Last year's recipient was seven-year-old Cole Guimond, who has a heart condition.
Welcome to the Second Annual Ride for a Friend. The Independent Motorcycle Corporation is organizing this Charity Poker Run on August 16th, 2014. We intend to make the Ride for a Friend Annual Charity Poker Run the premier Poker Run event in Northern Ontario.
This is a game, not a race, played out on the highways of Northeastern Ontario to raise money for local charity. This year’s recipient is young Sudbury resident, four year old Tyler Leduc.
The event will begin with registrations taking place at any of our five check points. Then you’re off to enjoy a scenic ride through the French River and West Nipissing areas along beautiful HWY 64. The run will conclude at the Beausejour Inn & Restaurant where participants will be entertained with live music.
All makes and models of motorcycles and classic cars and cruisers are welcome to participate. Money will be raised for Tyler and his family through registration fees and pledges collected by participants.
Destinations:
1. French River Rest Stop @ French River Hwy 69 crossing.
2. Beausejour Inn & Restaurant @ 1527 Hwy 64, Alban
3. Lake Nipissing Narrows @ North of Monetville Hwy 64
4. The Lavigne Tavern, @ Lavigne on Hwy 64
5. Jean Guy Rubber Boots Tavern @ 201 Main Street, Sturgeon Falls
*Final destination and hand submission point is Beausejour in Alban.
Run Details:
1. Riders can register and begin their run at any of the 5 check points.
2. Run starts at 11am.
3. $20 per hand. Riders may purchase multiple hands.
4. Poker Run Play Card must be submitted by 3pm at the Beausejour.
Poker Run Format:
1. You’ll draw a card at each of the check points
2. Hands will be determined by the ‘Poker Run Score Card’ which you’ll receive at your first check point
3. You may purchase additional cards when submitting your Score Card. A maximum of 2 additional cards may be purchased @ $5 each. Prior to drawing your card you’ll have to forfeit one card from your existing hand.
More chances to win:
1. We’ll be holding a 50/50 draw
2. Door prizes. Keep your ticket stubs!
Tickets will be available in about a week and can be obtained by contacting us.
If you would like to be a sponsor, please don't hesitate to contact us - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IMC would like to thank the local businesses and sponsors below for their contribution to Ride for a Friend 2014. We're proud to have you in our community!
-Caisse Populaire Alliance
-Cambrian Ford
-Creative Bites Cafe & Catering
-Davio General Contractors
-DWD Electric
-Evan's Lumber
-Guitar Clinic
-Jack Dugan and Associates
-Jean Guy Rubber Boots
-Kerr Smart Energy
-Lakeview Sales and service
-Lavigne Tavern
-Leather Works
-Littlejohns Sign Shop
-Mattawa Home Hardware
-Mattawa Tim Hortons
-McLelland Crawford Topp LLP
-Noelville Pharmacy
-Noremac Drillers
-Northfast
-Northfield Lumber
-Ontario Parks and the Ministry of Natural Resources
-Orica Canada Inc
-Party Tent Rentals
-Rossi's Wholesale
-Skin Illusions
-Stack Brewers
-StevensOmni Flooring
-The Beausejour
-The Rock Harley-Davidson
-The Shop Harley-Davidson
-Twisted Doll
-Vespa
-Wright Air Systems
-Yes We Do Coffee & Vending Services
Once again IMC would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who participated and contributed to our Second Annual HWY 64 Ride for a Friend Charity Poker Run!! IMC had a small gathering last Saturday at The Rock Harley Davidson in order to present a cheque in the amount of $10,000.00 to Tyler Leduc and his family.
This year was a great success!! We hope you'll all join again next year. IMC has been working with a local organization to identify next year's recipient of the RFAF proceeds and we'll make an announcement in the near future.
At the age of 1 Tyler was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP). CP is an incurable central motor dysfunction affecting muscle tone, posture and movement. CP is neither genetic nor an infectious disease, and thus it is not contagious. Most cases are congenital, arising at or about the time of birth, and are diagnosed at a young age. A few months after his CP diagnosis, Tyler was also diagnosed with Epilepsy. Epilepsy is characterized by seizure that can vary from brief and nearly undetectable to long periods of vigorous shaking. In epilepsy, seizures tend to recur, and have no immediate underlying cause. Tyler has been on various medications from the time he was 6 months old. His latest medication, introduced to him in 2013, has allowed for some significant progress in his development for which his mother is very thankful.
Furthermore, around the time of his birth, Tyler suffered a lack of oxygen, causing global brain damage. Tyler is not only physically handicapped but mentally as well. As such he is fully dependent, uses a wheelchair, and needs assistance with general mobility, every meal, every day needs. He can eat soft solids or well mashed food but he does not chew since his oral motor skills are affected. Tyler had a feeding tube surgically implanted into his stomach for liquid intake as he will aspirate on thin liquids if he takes them orally. 
Tyler is now 4 years old. He and his mother Angele moved to Sudbury from Espanola in October 2013 so that he could attend the Health Sciences North's Children’s Treatment Centre. The Children’s Treatment Centre is a family-centered community-based rehabilitation facility. He attends school there 2 ½ hours a day, Monday through Friday.
Tyler is a vibrant, happy and eager little man. Since attending school at the Children’s Treatment Centre in Sudbury he has made much progress and will continue to do so at his own pace. He loves music, books, Thomas the Train and long walks/drives. He is easy going and has a great BIG personality. With everyone he meets he seems to find a place in their hearts.
Tyler lives with his mother Angele at socially assistant housing property in Sudbury. The two bedroom unit they occupy is inadequate in terms of space due to all of the extra equipment involved with raising a special needs child. Unfortunately, their current housing is not an accessible unit, something that Angele that they might transition to sooner than later.
The family is on a fixed income and Tyler receives a small amount from disability. Some of the equipment he needs is also covered, such as wheelchair, stander, toilet system, but falls far short of optimizing his health and wellbeing.
The list of things that are not provided for is long and expansive. This is where Ride for a Friend comes in. Help us help this family with the many thousands of dollars in expenses facing them down the road.
• Repairs to their wheelchair accessible van.
• Travel to Tyler’s appointments, locally and to the Toronto area.
• Specialized beds
• Specialized chairs
• Specialized developmental toys
• Expensive personal care products (special diapers, etc)
• Special stroller for walks and outdoor activities (wheelchairs are no good for off road use)
Angele wishes to one day send Tyler for a return trip to Ability Camp in Picton, Ontario. The center offers a 5 week Conductive Education and Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy program specifically designed for children with Cerebral Palsy. Tyler has been fortunate enough to attend these programs twice before with great success. He gained many strengths and abilities including learning how to sit up independently. The program also taught Angele different therapeutic approaches and many ways to help her son with everyday challenges. Unfortunately good things sometimes come at a price. This program costs nearly $10,000.
As you can see, the financial burden on this family is substantial, and the costs will only continue to grow as Tyler gets older. The simple things that the “average” person may need, often comes at a significant cost to those with special needs.
Angele is a single mother, raising Tyler on her own. She says it hasn’t been easy but Tyler is and has been her priority, her joy, her love and her life since the day he was born. She’s a full time mother, caregiver, nurse and secretary.
Please consider taking part in Ride for a Friend and help us give this family a brighter future.
