Billed as the Ultimate Bike Ride and an experience you’re unlikely to forget, we joined forces with over 10,000 cyclists for Mattamy Homes’ Bike for Brain Health in support of the Baycrest Foundation.
Currently, over 50 million people worldwide live with dementia, and according to Baycrest, nearly half of dementia cases could be prevented. In response, we joined 10,000 cyclists and volunteers across Toronto, ON, for Mattamy Homes’ Bike For Brain Health. This ride supports the Baycrest Foundation with the goal of raising awareness, promoting prevention, and supporting research in brain health.
Participants cycled through 25km, 50km, or 75km routes on the city’s busiest roads – the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway – which were closed for the event. This unique day allows anyone with a bike to experience riding at a world-class event. The ride caters to both competitive and recreational cyclists, starting from a bike village within the Enercare Centre compound. Along the route, cyclists enjoyed rest stops with refreshments, support from local volunteers, and mechanical and medical assistance. Post-ride, volunteers were treated to live music, nutritious snacks, photo opportunities, and massages.
One hundred percent of all donations go directly to the Baycrest Foundation. This year’s effort raised over $6 million. Proceeds support Baycrest programs focused on prevention, early detection, new clinical trials, and improving care for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all cases in Canada. The Alzheimer Society of Canada estimates that 733,040 people in Canada are living with dementia in 2024, a number expected to reach 1.7 million by 2050. Over 25 different diseases and conditions can cause dementia, but nearly 40% of dementia cases worldwide are preventable.
Mattamy Homes, a leading North American homebuilder, shares a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility. The company is dedicated to enhancing social benefits and building resilient communities through initiatives like #BikeForBrainHealth. Mattamy Homes has led this event for three consecutive years.
The Baycrest Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Baycrest healthcare institution, supports research, innovation, care, and education in brain health and aging. Baycrest is renowned for its research and innovation network, including the Rotman Research Institute, one of the world’s top cognitive neuroscience research institutes. It also hosts the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging, the largest national dementia research initiative, and powers the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation.