Participants from last year’s 5th annual Punjabi Senior Society bike-a-thon. (Submitted photo)

Prince George, B.C. – Members and supporters of the local Punjabi community are making a return bike ride to Purden Lake today to raise money for the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.

Specifically, the Punjabi Canadian Senior Society’s 6^th Annual Bike-A-Thon will put the money raised in today’s event toward the Foundation’s goal of funding an OptosOCT SLO system and a California UWF unit.  The equipment is used in measuring and recording the progression of retinal disease as well as many other diseases and conditions of the eye.  It is highly effective in dealing with direct eye injuries, macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, stroke patients and retinal holes, tears and detachments.

One of the organizers of today’s bike ride is Gurdeep Powar, who says approximately 15 riders of varying ages are taking part in the event.  Heading out at 8 a.m. from the Senior Centre at the Sikh Temple on Davis Road he says “we get to Purden Lake around eleven-thirty, twelve o’clock, it takes about three-and-a-half hours.  And because the (Punjabi Canadian) Senior Society are sponsoring us they are providing a lunch for all the participants.  And then we usually leave the lake about 3 o’clock  and get back to town around 6.”

In the past five years the Bike-A-Thon has raised nearly $40,000.  Anyone wishing to donate toward this effort can contact Gurdeep Powar at (250) 552-3816 OR Major Varaich at (250) 552-1123.