City Paramedic team cycling their way to Ottawa to raise funds for national memorial

HAMILTON, ON - Today, members of Hamilton Paramedic Service kicked off the Hamilton stage of the “Paramedic Ride” to raise funds for the Canadian Paramedic Memorial Fund. The “Paramedic Ride” is a not for profit organization dedicated to strengthening the Paramedic Community. Rides are held throughout the year, across the country to raise awareness and funds towards the construction of a national memorial to honor Paramedics lost in the line of duty. In Ottawa, Ontario, there are several monuments that honour first responders who have given their lives in service, including military, police and firefighters. Currently this does not include a monument dedicated to Canadian Paramedics.

Now in its third year, the “Escarpment City Gears”, a cycling team made up of 20 members of Hamilton Paramedic Service, left Hamilton today to complete the 100km “Hammer to T.O.” pre-ride. In Toronto, they will join 200 riders from across the country for the 500+ km trek to Ottawa, Ontario. On Monday, September 17, over 120 additional Paramedic riders in Gatineau, Quebec will join them for the final kilometres to Ottawa where they celebrate and honour those Paramedics lost in the line of duty.

Since 1980, nearly 50 Canadian Paramedics have lost their lives providing lifesaving care to citizens here at home and while serving overseas. This year, Paramedics will wear orange jerseys to commemorate the 5-year anniversary of the ORNGE Air Ambulance crash that took the lives of Flight Paramedics Chris Snowball and Dustin Dagenais and Pilots Don Filliter and Jacques Dupuy.