Retirees cycle across Canada to raise awareness about Huntington's disease

Two retirees who cycled across Canada to raise awareness about Huntington's disease finished their trek in St. John's Monday afternoon. 

"It's kind of hard to believe that it's over," Jim Stewart told the St. John's Morning Show. "It feels a little bit weird not to be getting ready [for another day's ride]."

The two friends left their homes in Windsor, Ontario and flew to Vancouver. On May 14 they departed from Stanley Park and cycled all but eight of the 72 days it took to cross the country. 

They'd be in the saddle by 8:30 most mornings and spend between four and six hours on the road. On a typical day they'd travel between 100 and 150 kilometres. 

"It's a beautiful country filled with beautiful people," Stewart said.

The idea for the trip started when Stewart retired. Cycling across Canada had been a lifelong dream and it only took a phone call to recruit his good friend Marty Denonville.

'It's very painful just to watch'

They decided to use the ride as an opportunity to raise awareness about Huntington disease, a genetic disorder that affects the brain and eventually leads to death.

Denonville recently discovered that three of his nieces, all between 45 and 50 years old, had been diagnosed with the incurable disease. 

"I don't know know how my sister-in-law Sandy does it because it's affected all three of her children," Denonville said. "It's very painful just to watch." 

The two cyclists have raised more than $30,000 to help find a cure for Huntington's. But Stewart says the 7,200-kilometre journey was about more than just money. 

"Money's always important," he said. "But we met so many people across Canada.  We've helped raise awareness about Huntington's."