By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Many local residents got a chance for a close-up look at this year’s Friends For Life Bike Rally, with its Aug. 3 stop for the night in Port Hope and its travelling east through Northumberland County Aug. 4.
This six-day 600K rally will support the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, AIDS Community Care Montreal and Trellis HIV and Community Care in Kingston. With 8 a.m.-to-4 p.m. days, subsequent days will see the rides stop in Adolphustown, Kingston, Johnstown and Lancaster before the finish in Montreal.
It’s billed as “the only volunteer-led ride that brings people together for an inclusive, supportive and life-changing challenge that inspires much-needed help for people living with HIV/AIDS.”
Interviewed by Today’s Northumberland, co-chair Seamus Butterly recalled that the ride “really started out of necessity when there wasn’t much money for AIDS funding in the City of Toronto. A group of young men, one being Danny Nashman, got together with some other guys and decided to do a ride from Toronto to Montreal.
“This was 27 years ago.”
Butterly would describe the first ride as somewhat haphazard, but the route they scouted out is basically the one they still have. They have brought improvements to make things safer for the participants over the years so that, in 2025, “all you have to do is come, put your bum in the seat and ride. We take care of all the rest, because the important thing right now, of course, is to make money.”
Just because a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS is no longer automatically a death sentence does not mean it is no longer a concern, Butterly said.
“HIV rates are on the rise, and we need to start taking care of those with HIV/AIDS who are getting older.”
What some see as the face of AIDS has changed, he said.
“You are looking at HIV right here. I have been HIV-positive now for 16 years. And because of the new medications etc., I am a healthy, untransmissible, undetectable HIV person.”
There are a lot of unknowns as these people age, however. Butterly also noted another demographic of concern – “new Canadians coming into Canada who are HIV-positive, and they haven’t had the same in their countries. So luckily they come in and we have something for them in terms of getting healthy, getting proper food, getting vitamins.”
He described the work done by the three agencies as “boots on the ground for people who need the services,” and proceeds from the ride make up about one-third of their budgets.
“We’re up to $1.4-million on this ride alone, with a goal of $1.7-million. We are excited about hitting that number, and we know we are going to make $2-to-$300,000 on the ride alone this week,” Butterly estimated.
Looking ahead to 2026, they are hoping to get some corporate sponsors on board – and perhaps even to make more of a deal out of their traditional stop in Port Hope with its amazing people and beautiful surroundings.
This stop is always something to look forward to, he said, even apart from being the terminus for their first day on the road.
“They welcome us with open arms. The mayor has been great. All the services have been great. It’s a beautiful, beautiful community.”
“I met two people from Port Hope in Cuba last winter, and they came out to see me today. Wonderful people, wonderful community They open up the doors to us.”
Butterly said the ride attracts everyone from athletes with their $8,000 European bikes to recreational cyclers with their $150 Canadian Tire models. There is even an 80-year-old participant riding a 30-year-old bike.
“If you want to spend the money and you have the means, please go ahead and do that, and enjoy the ride. If you don’t have the means and you want to just join us, you can do that too – because we say the ride is a journey, it’s not a race. It’s not who comes in first. It’s come and enjoy the day.”
Zachary Wells of Toronto (originally from Peterborough) reported for the ride on a unicycle, ready for the 600K challenge.
Staying hydrated and well-nourished is a special concern, Wells reported, so he keeps water and snacks in a handy close-to-the-face pocket, reserving backpack space for things he needs on longer stops.
Another special challenge – there is no free-wheeling on a unicycle, so he even has to pedal on downhills.
And the different posture required puts extra strain on his back, which he alleviates with special straps on the chest and waist.
But he has no regrets about giving the ride a try.
“During opening speeches in Toronto, they were showing a lot of stuff and I got a bit emotional,” Wells said.
John Hurley, originally from the east coast but now a 15-year Toronto resident, was along for his second year. He signed up with a friend last year, wanting to help out a cause that was important to him and intrigued by the challenge of cycling from Toronto to Montreal.
“I quickly realized I joined not only a rally, but a community,” Hurley said.
“I made some great friends, and now I am back for year number two.”
In the months leading up to this year’s event, he has been doing training rides and attending team socials.
“It’s a group of people I keep up with, and it was great to see a lot of our fundraising and training all culminate in send-off today,” he said – “great to see everyone get together with a common goal and set off on the route today.
“There’s a lot of positive energy,” he added.
“It’s a community that brings everyone together. The nights are a lot of fun – we’ve got everything from karaoke to team dinners and drag performances. So we ride hard, but we certainly do party hard once we get to camp.”
“It’s all how you look at it. The ride itself is a beautiful, beautiful ride, and it’s not a race so we are all encouraged to go at our own speed.”
“It’s really just taking in the scenery and taking as many breaks as we want. There’s a water station set up for us along the way, and we get lunch at the half-way point. So every day is as hard as you want it to be.”
Last year, Hurley recalled, “I didn’t really know what I was getting into. I had done the training ride, so I knew how to tackle the long distances, but I didn’t know what the dynamics with the team would be, because we are together for six days.”
“This year, coming back, I kind of know what to expect. I know the nights are going to be fun I know there’s going to be a lot of fun days and tired days.”
Registration is already open for the 2026 ride, and participants can also opt to ride 100K and 300K routes in addition to the big 600K trek. For more information, visit https://bikerally.org/
