A 24-hour bicycle relay will see funds raised for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba this weekend.
24-Hour Heart Cycle will be held at Snap Fitness, 205 Osborne Street, from 6 p.m. on Saturday until 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Red River College student Lauren Parsons came up with the idea for the event after losing her brother, Scott, at the age of 31 to heart-related illness.
“It’s important for people to know that heart disease and stroke aren’t something you can wait to worry about,” said Parsons, a journalism student and organizer for the relay. “They don’t just affect people over 60 — young people need to think about keeping their heart healthy now.”
Almost half of Canadians aged 12 and over report being physically inactive, according to a 2009 Heart and Stroke Foundation survey. Paired with a poor diet, heart disease is among the leading causes of death in Canada.
Donations from the relay will promote research into heart disease and stroke, and support child health, free CPR training events and community health workshops.
Zumba instructor Bella Ghita and a comedy sketch by the cast of “The Week Thus Far” will provide entertainment at intervals during the relay.
