The 13th annual No Roads Back fundraiser will be returning to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #29 in Paris, on Saturday, November 15, 2025.
The event raises funds for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope transportation program, which connects people living with cancer to volunteer drivers who take them to and from their treatment appointments.
Jim Young, a long-time Legion member, told County of Brant Council during its September 23, 2025, meeting that many County residents often have to travel for treatment to the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre in Kitchener or the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre in London.
“As a result, there are costs [associated with that],” he said.
In an interview with the Brant Beacon, Young said he originally created the event many years ago after noticing a friend was growing out his moustache for Movember, a month-long campaign held every November to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health.
“I can’t really grow a moustache that well, but his father-in-law at the time owned The Alex in downtown Brantford, and I asked him, ‘Do you think your father-in-law would let me come and perform for a little while and we’ll put a bowl out and try to gather some cash?’” recalled Young. “I figured if I asked a couple more people to come out for the afternoon and play a few tunes in between, we could get a couple of dollars and so that’s how it kind of started.”
Noticing that many of the artists who were showing up to play were from Paris or the County, Young eventually approached the local Legion to see if he could hold the event there.
“It worked out because the Legion is a charity too so they get some of the revenue from the bar, and it’s just kind of taken off from there,” he said.
Last year, the event managed to raise over $3,000 for Wheels of Hope, and while the organizer said it was a good amount for a grassroots effort, he does hope to do more and one day secure some sort of corporate sponsorship as well.
“In 2024 we raised over $3,000 and while that doesn’t seem like a lot of money compared to some events with that corporate involvement, that was just from people’s pockets,” stated Young. “When you look at it like that, we definitely get people with big hearts coming to the event. I just can’t help but wish we could do more; we’re really trying to get some smart corporate involvement but it sounds easier than it is, but maybe one day.”
With that being said, Young explained that he’s grateful for everyone who is donating their time to make the event happen, and to anyone who does donate while they’re there.
“It’s totally a day about giving. All of the acts and even our sound guy, are donating their time to be there… Nobody’s doing this to make money because it’s not about that, it’s about raising awareness for the program and helping people out who need it,” he said. “And for the people who come out to the event, of course money is just terrific and helpful, and if you can donate, we would love that, but if you can’t and you just want to come and enjoy the day, that’s alright too. Maybe you can’t donate money, but I know volunteers are always needed for the program so maybe that’s something they could consider.”
Young said there is no cover charge to get into the fundraiser and this year’s event, which runs from noon to 10 p.m., will feature 13 musicians including:
- Chuck Jackson and Crossfield Bend at 12:45 p.m.
- Mr. Shayne Lahay at 1:40 p.m.
- The Barman at 2:10 p.m.
- Silvia Dee and the Boyfriend at 2:50 p.m.
- Before Midnight at 3:40 p.m.
- Allie Stenhouse at 4:30 p.m.
- Bailey Robb at 5:05 p.m.
- Gray and Ludgate at 5:35 p.m.
- Shawn Blackmore at 6:10 p.m.
- Josh Doherty at 6:50 p.m.
- Friday Family Sing Song at 7:30 p.m.
- The Die Hards at 8:20 p.m.
- Loose Moralz Entertainment at 9 p.m.
“It’s an extremely good lineup, which sounds like a cliché, but it’s true – the talent level has really cranked up over time and this year we have some bonafide talent,” said Young. “At the beginning of the day we’ll have Chuck Jackson, who was in a band called the Downchild Blues Band, and he reached out to me and asked if he would take part in this, which was cool. We also have Silvia Dee and the Boyfriend just before 3 p.m., Allie Stenhouse around 4:30 p.m. and everyone else in between and afterwards so it should be a good time.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
