Participation Support Services (PSS) is gearing up for the annual Challenge Ride motorcycle event, which will run on Saturday, August 9, 2025.
Previously called “Ride to Thrive,” Challenge Ride is held every year to help raise money in support of Participation Support Services (PSS).
“This is an event we’ve been doing for years, but we have a new name for it because it’s in support of people that live a challenge every day,” said Doug Hunt, Director of Marketing, Fundraising and Volunteers for PSS.
“Money from fundraising events like these go towards equipment, other special devices that our clients need, and also our vans to help get our guys around town and involved in the community,” added Andrew Fyfe, PSS’ Resident Care Supervisor.
On the day, participants are asked to meet in the parking lot of the West Brant Starbucks, located at 320 Colborne St. West, at 8:30 a.m. for registration and to grab their “passports.”
After a few speeches and a proclamation from Larry Davis, the County of Brant Town Crier, riders will put their kickstands up at 10 a.m., and head over to Participation Support Services (10 Bell Lane) for a short tour around the Participation House before heading out on their route.
“It’s a fun ride to dealerships around the area, so we’ll be making stops at Brantford Motorcycle, Davidson Sport in Norwich, and Power Garage in Woodstock. From there, we’re going to head back towards Paris because 2nd Gear, who is based in Cambridge, is actually going to come and set up a little pop-up for us at the Tim Hortons across from Eggsmart,” said Hunt. “We’ll also be making a stop at Dualsport Plus back in Brantford and then our good friends at the Brant Naval Veterans’ Association, who have been our biggest supporter of this event for years now, will be hosting us for a meal and our award presentations.”
Hunt said that while the route is already laid out for ease, drivers are more than welcome to visit each stop in whichever order they choose so long as they’re back at the Navy Club for 2:00 p.m.
“People can travel solo or in little groups, whichever works best for them, we just ask that they follow the rules of the road,” he said. “All the dealerships know we’re coming so the riders can go whichever way they like, but they should make sure to stop at each place so they can get their passports marked because when they come back here, they’ll turn that into Andrew Fyfe and he’ll give them a ticket to enter for a chance to win each of the prizes. It’s great because you’re likely to win more than you spent on the ride.”
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.
