Sackville gearing up for another Big Bike ride this summer

It's more powerful than your childhood three-speed bicycle and faster than a speeding trike. It's eight feet wide and 30 feet long and can seat 30 people in comfort. And it's coming to Sackville again this summer.

The bright red, eye-catching Big Bike for Heart will take to the streets in August to increase awareness and raise funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. And event organizers are hoping local residents will jump on board.

"Our goal is to help promote physical activity in a fun and exciting way, gain awareness for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick and its partners, while raising revenue for research and health promotion programs that benefit all New Brunswickers," said organizer Natalie Crossman.

Crossman invites everyone from the community to sign up for Sackville's Big Bike Ride, where participants will pedal around town on the bicycle built for 30.

The Big Bike Ride, now in its 15th year, will be traveling across New Brunswick from Aug. 18 to Sept. 20, visiting more than 30 communities throughout the province.

"It's more than a bike and it's more than just a ride, because when the Big Bike for Heart rolls through a community, it brings with it the support and hope of thousands across the country," she said.

Crossman said she's hopeful that local businesses will also join in the fun and sign up their staff for the Aug. 23 event. Participants are asked to commit to securing $50 each in pledges.

Crossman admitted that being part of the Big Bike event is especially close to her own heart, given that there is a close family history of heart disease in her own family, and Crossman herself is dealing with a heart issue - atrial fibrillation.

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of Canadians.

In our own province, said Crossman, there is a prevalence of obesity and inactivity, resulting in one of the highest rates of death from cardiovascular diseases nation-wide.

New Brunswick's average for physical inactivity is 61 per cent compared to a national average of 53.5 per cent. The provincial obesity average is 55.8 per cent, a higher rate that the Canadian average of 47.5.

"As you can see, this is a huge issue for our province and for our foundation, especially since many cardiovascular diseases are preventable," she said.

For the past seven years, Sackville's Big Bike Ride has been hosted and organized by Moneris Solutions, raising more than $15,000 for the cause. This year's event, however, is being opened up to the community with the hopes more people will get involved. Crossman's goal is to get enough people signed up to fill more than one bike, perhaps two or three.

"We need all the riders we can get," she said. "We hope that people will partner with us and continue to build on our momentum of reducing the effects of heart disease and stroke. Together, we can continue to make a difference and improve the overall health of our community."

To register, contact Crossman at fncrssmn@eastlink.ca or (506) 536-1843.