ABRAM-VILLAGE, P.E.I. — A St. Chrysostome couple is raising money for sick children on P.E.I.
Julien and Edna Gallant have been married for 34 years and are training to participate in the Century Ride for Wishes in support of the P.E.I. Chapter of Make-A-Wish, which recently unified with the Children’s Wish Foundation.
“We wanted to raise some money for cancer and a good cause,” said Julien, 65. “I just thought of Make-A-Wish and never turned back.”
The Gallants have a goal of raising $10,000, which is the average cost of a wish.
“When we were in conversation they did ask that and they said, ‘Let’s try to grant a wish, then!,’” said Darryl Warren, development co-ordinator for the P.E.I. chapter of Make-A-Wish.
Julien said the fundraising has been going “very really good” and Edna said it’s rewarding to raise money for an organization like Make-A-Wish. She added these wishes are something for the sick kids “to look forward to.”
Warren confirmed the provincial chapter is currently working on granting 38 wishes for Island children.
“When I heard of those numbers I was stunned,” said Edna. “I had no idea they would be that high. That’s a lot of sick kids.”
The Gallants will cycle from Egmont Bay to Moncton, N.B., which is approximately 100 miles, the weekend of Sept. 18. It’s a trip the couple made seven years ago in August, during scorching hot temperatures. They are hopeful temperatures will be much more cooler in September.
“I said then I’d never do it again,” chuckled Edna, 56. “I may regret this. He’s in shape, but I’m not so much.”
To which Julien quickly replied, “’You’ll be all right.’”
Donations
- Anyone wishing to donate Julien and Edna Gallant’s fundraising for the Century Ride for Wishes can do so by using this link: makeawish.ca/centuryrideforwishes.
The trip
Julien said the plan is to leave early in the morning as soon as it’s bright enough to be on the road. He said the couple, which will have a couple of support vehicles following them after shuttling across the Confederation Bridge, will try to average 20 kilometres an hour.
Julien said the trip is 160 kilometres and, assuming they can cover 20 kilometres an hour, it will be eight hours of actual biking. He said they’ll make pit stops and rest along the way, and they hope to be there around supper.
“It’s not a race and it’s not about us,” said Julien, a licensed carpenter who is a maintenance worker with Health P.E.I., at the Tyne Valley Manor. “It’s the fundraising we want to emphasize. It’s not about two people going to Moncton.”
Edna, who is employed with the Canadian Revenue Agency in Summerside, added this journey is about raising funds to provide some joy to at least one sick child.
Warren said the provincial association grants three types of wishes – travel, item, and celebrity. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Warren added some travel wishes have transitioned to item wishes.
“That is such as backyard oasis’s, entertainment rooms and swimming pools, for example,” said Warren. “We are so thankful for Julien and Edna for thinking of the Children’s Wish Foundation.
“I am confident they will be able to reach their goal of granting a wish to an Island child.”
