Imran Qureshi has raised $115,000 so far for cancer research and treatment programs at the Jewish General Hospital.Pavel1964/Getty Images/iStockphoto
The donor: Imran Qureshi
The gift: Raising $115,000
The cause: Montreal's Jewish General Hospital
A few years ago, Imran Qureshi was working out at a local gym in Montreal when he spotted a notice about the Quebec Ride to Conquer Cancer, a 200-kilometre cycling trip from Montreal to Quebec City that raises money for cancer research and treatment programs at the Jewish General Hospital.
Mr. Qureshi didn't have much cycling experience but he decided to give the ride a try. It wasn't easy at first, but he soon fell in love with cycling. "It changed my life completely, it changed my health completely," said Mr. Qureshi, 64, who runs a Jugo Juice franchise in Montreal. He has now completed seven rides, raising $115,000 in total.
Last year the cause became more personal after doctors found cancer in one of his kidneys. Surgeons removed half his kidney and Mr. Qureshi is confident all the cancer is gone.
He'll be back on his bike next July for the 2017 ride and has no plans of slowing down. "Honestly the Ride to Conquer Cancer means a lot to me," he said. "I will do it as long as I can pedal."
Paul Waldie