The team at Sutton Group – Heritage Realty Inc. put their hearts into Big Bike for the sixth year in a row! This summer, REALTORS®, Brokers and staff from the four Heritage offices raised $5,630 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and 29 of them joined in the fun of riding around downtown Oshawa on a colossal bicycle. Since 2010, this dedicated team has contributed an astounding $29,991!
The original fundraising goal this year was $4,000, which is enough to pay for an automated external defibrillator (AED) at a local recreation centre, but team captain Nicole Menary kept the enthusiasm rolling.
“The fact that we crushed our goal by over $1,500 shows what this company is made of,” says Nicole. “I am so incredibly proud of my colleagues. Some of them have been directly affected by heart disease, so this is a very important cause for us. We always wrap up the event by heading to a local pub to celebrate with a cocktail and heart healthy appetizers.”
“Having an AED at the recreation centre could save a life one day. The device has simple audio and visual commands making it fairly easy for people without any medical training to provide potentially life-saving treatment to a cardiac arrest victim.”
Big Bike is a key fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. It began in 1994 and currently there were rides in more than 200 communities across Canada. Big Bike welcomes teams of up to 29 riders committed to raising a minimum of $50 each. This year, teams such as the one from Sutton Group – Heritage Realty Inc. helped to raise more than $9 million.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada was established in the 1950’s to encourage better cardiovascular health for Canadians through research, health promotion and advocacy. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, over the past 60 years, the death rate from heart disease and stroke has declined by more than 75 per cent.
This story was adapted – with permission – from one originally featured on the Sutton Spirit website. The Sutton Spirit program recognizes Sutton associates across Canada that improve and enhance the lives of the people around them.
