Schomberg man cycles to conquer cancer

May 6, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte
For Jason Ortepi, charity has taken on a number of meanings, from exercise, to rehabilitation, and most importantly, philanthropy.
The 38-year old father of two from Schomberg has managed to raise close to $20,000 for the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer since 2008, and is looking to push that number higher and higher.
As curious as it is, Ortepi’s connection to the Ride to Conquer Cancer began in 2008 shortly after his father-in-law had a bilateral hip replacement.
“He’s ridden his bike all his life,” said Ortepi of his Trinidadian-born father-in-law. “He had actually founded a cycling club back home when he was younger, and was in the dumps after his surgery.”
They set a goal to get him back on his bike as a rehabilitation method, and what better way than a 200-kilometre journey from Toronto all the way to Niagara Falls, benefitting the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre along the way.
Fast forward seven years, and the intent has changed in Ortepi’s participation.
“What ended up happening is we kind of forgot about his hip replacement, and the focus ended up being just raising money.”
While his 80-year-old father-in-law will be taking a backseat in this year’s incarnation of the Ride, Ortepi will be one of over 5,000 participants cycling – a number that truly brings out the meaning of the event.
“It’s surprisingly overwhelming, the support that you get,” said Ortepi. “You don’t really realize how much it means to people until you see them all cheering you on … it’s amazing.”
Ortepi particularly recalls a specific time riding through Halton Hills, when he passed a house with a sign on the lawn reading “thank you riders – cancer survivor lives here.”
“I don’t know, they just kind of remind you about what it’s all about … it kind of blows you away.”
The Ride has hit even closer to home with Jason in recent years, with the first cancer diagnosis in the Ortepi family hitting a close relative.
“Everybody knows somebody. That’s the thing with cancer. Everyone is affected.”
It’s been a financially successful ride for Ortepi, having raised his five-figures donation mostly through family and friends. He also hosts an annual garage sale to raise funds, tentatively planned for Mother’s Day weekend this year.
“The first year we held it, it pretty much looked like a Toys R Us on our driveway,” Ortepi joked. “We’ll pretty much take anything.”
He wishes to remind Schomberg residents to look out for signage in the coming months around town.
Now with roots in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, the mid-June event is looking to surpass the staggering $20 million raised in last year’s Ride. Ortepi distinctly remembers his father-in-law anticipating the number each year he rode, as the Ride has become a large part of the Ortepi family.
Those interested in the Ride can visit www.conquercancer.ca, or call 1-877-699-BIKE (2453).
To find out more about Jason’s ride, check out www.saddleboys.weebly.com.