On January 1st, Niagara, Ontario’s Mike Rilstone started his personal 40,075 Challenge: pedalling virtually around the Earth in 365 days on his recumbent exercise bike to raise sponsorships to help children with cancer.
In August, it will be Rilstone’s 6th year riding in the SickKids Foundation’s Great Cycle Challenge, (GCC), where people can sponsor his goal.
Sadly, Rilstone had watched his Mum lose a 14½ year hard-fought battle to cancer in 1981.
When he read about the GCC when 70-years-old, he felt raising funds for children with cancer was the perfect way to honour her memory.
When registering to ride, Rilstone was asked to pick a distance goal. He elected to train hard to emulate his hero Terry Fox and ride 100 kilometres on his bike every day that August, which is the equivalent of a 26 mile foot marathon.
Rilstone explained, “Based on a chat with my family doctor, I keep my bike’s resistance setting on minimum. Now in my 70’s, I have to minimize the stress on my knees and hips. In effect, my bike is a calorie-burning, cardio machine. After riding and training daily for over 5 years now, my resting heart rate is 49 BPM, the recognised rate of male athletes ages 18 to 25 years. Additionally, I’ve matched my weight when in high school over 60 years ago and playing sports every day.”
In each succeeding year in his 70’s, as Rilstone participated in the GCC every August, he trained for his August rides all year round.
He explains, “It was like a miracle was happening body-wise. By 2025 I felt I was in the best shape of my life. Decades ago, I had played Senior “A” basketball in both Montreal and Hamilton. I now feel in better shape than when I was in my 20’s and 30’s!”
In fact, after stress tests at his local hospital, his cardiologist, Dr. Andy Lam, confirmed his biological age was probably 20 years lower than his chronological (or birthdate), age.
In 2025, Rilstone decided on perhaps the biggest challenge of his life. Every day in 2026, he must ride 109.8 kilometres to virtually cycle the circumference of our planet.
People ask him where he finds the time for so much cycling, and he explains how simple it is.
“I cycle whenever I’m on my computer or watching TV, which has become a good part of everyone’s daily life. For example, my wife and I are sports fanatics and I pedal every Blue Jays and Raptors game. I even forget I’m cycling. During February, while locked onto the Olympics all day, I have actually built up a reserve and am ahead of schedule.”
On April 21st, Rilstone hits his 77th year and hopes he can inspire many Canadians to sponsor him, even if it’s just for the price of a coffee.
“I read the testimonials of many of the cancer kids being helped by the SickKids Foundation. They are fighting hard like Mum once did and I will proudly cycle around Mother Earth this year to both honour and help them. It would also be gratifying to know my rides and exercise plan will inspire others to register and ride in the GCC, because every dollar helps these children.”
Rilstone can be sponsored via his rider’s page at this SickKids Foundation link:
https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/MichaelRilstone
