Annaleise Carr, youngest person to swim Lake Ontario, joins riders

TORONTO, Sept. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - Canadian Tire Jumpstart Pedal for Kids Cycling Tour ends its 500 km ride from Kingston to Niagara Falls on Friday, September 21. Over the course of five days, more than 100 riders hope to raise more than $200,000 for Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. The cycling tour kicked-off on September 17 in Kingston, with stops in Picton, Cobourg, Toronto and Burlington.

Jumpstart Pedal for Kids began with more than 30 cyclists undertaking a five-day 500 km journey. On the final day, the riders will pick up an additional 51 riders for a one-day 100 km ride. Joining the tour on the final day will be 14-year-old Annaleise Carr from Norfolk and the youngest person to swim Lake Ontario.

In Niagara-on-the-Lake, the group will be joined for the final 25 km by the Martha Billes VIP ride. The VIP ride consists of Martha Billes, Chairman of the Board, Canadian Tire Jumpstart and 10 Canadian Tire Corporation executives.

Once the riders cross the finish line, Dan Thompson, President, Canadian Tire Jumpstart will present Autism Niagara with a Canadian Tire Jumpstart Kids Activity Kit. The Canadian Tire Jumpstart Kids Activity Kit includes equipment that can be used indoors and outdoors and do not require specialized facilities, such as: basketballs, basketball nets, yoga mats, compasses and flags for orienteering, parachutes and juggling kits.

In 2011, Canadian Tire Jumpstart helped 197 children in the Niagara Falls chapter and has helped nearly 1,200 children since its inception in 2005. In 2011, Jumpstart helped more than 33,000 children in Ontario.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart is a national charitable program that helps financially disadvantaged kids participate in organized sport and recreation by covering registration, equipment and/or transportation costs. To follow the cyclists throughout their journey please click here.

SOURCE: CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED