Give Where You Live cycling to local schools this week

The Give Where You Live (GWUL) tour is set to touch down at schools throughout the region October 10, 2017 and race to a number of schools throughout the region on its inaugural tour.

GWUL is community fundraising effort organized through the volunteer efforts of police officers from local Ontario Provincial Police detachments and the Belleville Police Service. Formerly known as Pedal for Hope, GWUL, has switched gears for the new program.

Over the course of four days, officers and teams of community volunteers will cycle to 11 schools across Hastings and Prince Edward counties to play host to special assemblies that include ice-cream eating contests, music and fun.

The aim of Give Where You Live is to engage local elementary students in a fun, interactive introduction to impacting their local communities through charitable fundraising and volunteerism.

This year the program is directing all funds raised to Camp Trillium’s OuR Island, which is located off the shores of Wellington in Prince Edward County.

“All of the volunteers, sponsors and supporters behind the Give Where You Live campaign are looking forward to kicking off a fresh, new take on supporting our local region,” said Belleville Police Const. Jeremy Ashley, who is part of the GWUL organizing committee.

“Support for our program has been outstanding in all corners of the community,” he added, noting that previous versions of the tour have raised upwards of $430,000 in the name of children impacted by cancer.

“And now we are standing at the start line of something new that we believe will have an incredibly positive impact on the place we all call home.”

Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. James Locke and GWUL rider said schools across Prince Edward and Hastings counties have been itching to get involved with the program.

“This is a new venture for our team and we are all blown away by the support from our local schools and students,” said Locke, who is also a GWUL emcee. “And we want to thank them for standing with us by putting on an awesome assembly during our visit.”