You Are Not Alone

Big excitement is in store for Comox Bike Co. YANA Ride participants and their supporters.

The community of riders, friends, families and colleagues supporting YANA families will all be reuniting at the yearly Party in the Park on Sunday, Aug. 20. It will be a day dedicated to celebrating the incredible efforts of all the riders who have fundraised for YANA families.

All riders should plan to arrive at Comox Marina Park between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for their chance to win great prizes from the generous event sponsors. The community celebration will include live music and entertainment, family activities including bouncy castles, face painting, giant yard games and bike demo stations, beer garden, a silent auction and delicious seaside snacks. One lucky YANA supporter will win the growing 50/50 jackpot, and the top 200 fundraising riders will pick up their original 2023 YANA Ride t-shirts courtesy of Quantum Dental Group. So many prizes are up for grabs, and discounts will be available at Comox Bike Co for all registered riders.

All event costs are covered by sponsors, so 100% of funds raised through the Comox Bike Co YANA Ride are used to support YANA families travelling for their children’s medical needs.

YANA (You Are Not Alone) is a community organization offering help to Comox Valley families who need to travel for medical treatment for a child or for a pregnant mother.

To register, make a pledge to a rider, buy 50/50 or raffle tickets and participate in the silent auction starting Aug 1, visit https://raceroster.com/events/2023/75365/comox-bike-company-yana-ride.

The 2023 Comox Bike Co YANA Ride returns this summer for its 11th anniversary raising money for YANA families. Riders of all ages, abilities and disciplines are invited to be part of the massive community-wide event.

This year the event, organized by YANA (You Are Not Alone) in partnership with Comox Bike Co, will take place from August 1-20. Participants raise money by gathering pledges and donations while charting their own course riding between Aug. 1-20. All riders, family, friends and supporters will reunite at the annual Party in the Park on Sunday, August 20th at Marina Park in Comox.

To keep the event going during the pandemic, organizers designed a virtual model.

The success of the event was overwhelming. The 2020 YANA Ride was the most successful ever. Since then, the Ride has taken on the hybrid live-virtual format, reaching more people every year.

The YANA Fund Society is a community organization offering help to Comox Valley families who need to travel for medical treatment for a child or for a pregnant mother. YANA executive director Kelly Barnie expressed gratitude for the support received from riders, sponsors, and donors, emphasizing the financial difficulties many families face.

“Our goal is to lighten the financial burden of medical travel and ensure families don’t have to worry about whether or not they can access the healthcare their child needs,” said Barnie. “The funds raised through this fun event enable us to commit to the community that assistance from YANA will always be available. Each kilometre cycled, and every dollar raised contributes to fulfilling this promise.”

With the success of previous editions, the 2023 Comox Bike Co YANA Ride aims to surpass previous years’ donations and build on the event’s legacy of community spirit. The ride is unique in that no matter where you ride and when you ride you are invited to celebrate your accomplishment with fellow participants at the party on Sunday, Aug. 20 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Comox Marina Park.

This year’s Party in the Park will include plenty of activities and attractions for both bikers and spectators. Attendees can look forward to a vibrant expo area, featuring local vendors, sponsors, and organizations dedicated to health and wellness. Live entertainment, food vendors, a beer garden, snacks, samples, face painting, bouncy castles and interactive activities for the whole family will provide a lively and festive atmosphere throughout the day. Additionally, the winners will be drawn for the 50/50 jackpot, Air Canada Foundation raffle and the $500 Comox Bike Co gift card grand prize.

“It’s so fantastic to see people excited to be riding and coming together in the Park,” said Barnie. “Giving away a bunch of cash and the vouchers for flights definitely doesn’t hurt the excitement either! We’re really looking forward to the great turnout we’ve had in the past years continuing again this year.”

To sign up, sponsor a rider, buy 50/50 and raffle tickets, or get more information about the Comox Bike Company YANA Ride, visit https://raceroster.com/events/2023/75365/comox-bike-company-yana-ride.

Register and ride with your favourite biking buddies, raise funds by gathering pledges, and reunite at the annual Party in the Park on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at Marina Park in Comox!  Riders, family and friends will arrive at the Party in the Park between 11:00am-2:00pm, and entertainment, activities, treats, raffle, a beer garden, prize draws and more will continue through to 4:00pm.

Will you ride on August 20th? Or sometime between the 1st to the 20th?  Will you be tracking distance, time or elevation? Will you tally your trips around the block, or your daily commutes to work?  Whatever ride you choose to dedicate to YANA, you’ll be doing your part to raise funds for Comox Valley families who need to travel for the medical care of their child or a pregnant mother.  

Remember, this event is ALL about flexibility!

Ride WHERE you like, WHAT you like, and HOWEVER it suits you to show your support for YANA! 

• Where: Hit the trails, cycle the city streets, or ride laps around the neighbourhood. Chart the route that works for you, and just make sure to join us at the finish line on August 20th!
• What: Ride whatever you like. If it’s powered by you and it has wheels, it’s a fit for this ride! Gravel bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, even training-wheels and trikes, are welcome to participate in this event.
• How: Challenge yourself or set a goal and raise pledges while you do! Whether it’s a team challenge, a climb the height of a mountain challenge, or a ride-a-little-bit-every-day challenge, do what motivates and inspires you to ride for YANA families.

For more details and information on this year’s ride visit: https://www.yanacomoxvalley.com/yana-event/ride/