Paramedics in Alberta pushed the pedal south through the Rockies in honour of fallen Canadian paramedics to raise funds for a national memorial.
Paramedic Ride Alberta received a flashy escort down Banff Avenue with RCMP and EMS’ swirling lights on a grey and drizzly afternoon, Sunday (Sept. 20) for the ride’s closing ceremonies.
The wheels started spinning on Sept. 18 in Jasper, where paramedics, along with friends and family, began a three-day, 300-kilometre bicycle journey.
The ride raised between $4,000 and $5,000 (final numbers were not available by publication time) in donations in support of a National Paramedic Memorial Monument to be built in the nation’s capital. Since 1988, 39 Canadian paramedics have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Ritchie Wall, paramedic and Alberta Ride manager, said it’s not about the ride, but the journey itself.
“The concept is a ride, not a race. We ride together,” said Wall.
“The life of a paramedic is hard and it’s hard on families and there’s a lot of things that we see and a lot things that we don’t necessarily want to see again and often that can make a change in you or personality. Part of this is raising money for a memorial and we’re all in this together and we need to support each other.”
Wall said the first day of riding in the Rockies was a “good burn” and they’re looking to do the ride again next year.
Darren Sandbeck, chief paramedic for Alberta Health Services and EMS, was on hand to congratulate riders at Banff Avenue Square. He told the riders in red that he’d join them for a day next year.
“I think that the benefactors of this ride are extremely important as we honour the fallen and look to pay it forward to those who are coming behind,” Sandbeck said.
The Ride was completed with a moment of silence.
Local Banff Mineral Spring Hospital staff participating in the ride includes Natalie Palmer, Kevin Palmer, Craig McArthur and Peter Symons.
Shelley Buchan, site administrator at Mineral Springs said the importance for them to end here is something they are very proud to do.
“I think the significance here is once again the commitment of our EMS crews to ensure that their services are highlighted in some way and seen as proud of what they do,” Buchan said.
Additionally, the Alberta Chapter is also raising funds for the Paramedic Pay It Forward Award, which recognizes future leaders in EMS.
A dual bike ride was held in Ontario were more than 100 riders travelled from Toronto to Ottawa in the Paramedic Ride Ontario.
