The Big Bike has arrived – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. – The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike has begun its northern tour with a stop in Prince George today.

The tour allows teams of 29 riders from businesses and organizations in Prince George help raise money for stroke and heart disease research.

The BC Government and Service Employees’ Union ‘Crew 4 Heart team’ got things started.

“Today is our first Big Bike Ride, I’m so excited,” said Lori Cruddas, manager of the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Prince George office. “The bike just came up from Williams Lake last night and now we do nine days in northern, B.C.”

She said riders will participate “in a 12-minute mini-tour around downtown” beginning at the Coast Inn of the North.

Cruddas said the bike will be navigated by a specially trained driver who travels with the bike around the province.

She said the goal is to raise $102,000 in northern B.C. and noted the money is badly needed.

“Basically there’s about 70,000 new cardiac events a year in B.C. It affects all ages too – we think of it as a senior’s condition but it’s not, there’s lots of young people having strokes these days so our goal is to raise money for that research.”