Two of Toronto’s vital traffic arteries were closed for several hours on Sunday as cyclists rode for something even more vital: the heart.
As many as 14,000 cyclists took part in the 27th annual Becel Heart & Stroke Ride for Heart, organizers said. The 75-kilometre bike ride travelled along the Gardiner Expressway and up the Don Valley Parkway.
Both highways were closed for several hours as a result of the event but have since reopened.
The event’s goal is to raise $6 million for charity. This year’s target is half a million dollars more than last year’s record-setting total.
Money raised from the event goes toward heart disease research.
“With your help, we’ll provide Canadians with the tools, resources and initiatives to help reduce the controllable risk factors of heart disease and stroke,” the Becel Heart & Stroke website says.
The Ride for Heart is Canada’s largest charity cycling event.
