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Brothers Pedaling For A Purpose

Windsor brothers begin 4,500-km bike trek in Langley on July 5
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Windsor teens Michele (far right) and Christian D'Agnillo were in Langley on July 5 for the start of their 4,500-km bike ride back home to Windsor, Ont. as part of their Pedal For A Purpose ride. The teens are trying to raise $75,000 for the Windsor and Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation.

A pair of teenaged brothers are spending the next five weeks Pedaling For A Purpose.

On Friday morning (July 5), they began their quest to cycle 4,500 kilometres.

The brothers — 17-year-old Michele D'Agnillo and 15-year-old Christian — began the journey in Langley. They will make their way across the country with the final destination their hometown of Windsor, Ont.

They are doing the ride to raise money for the Windsor and Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation.

The original goal was to raise $50,000, but they have surpassed that and are now aiming for $75,000.

They are currently at $61,000 raised.

"I am choosing to fight against cancer as an issue that affects every member within our community," said Michele.

"It is more about a way to give back to the community," said Michele.

The money raised will support the Cancer Centre Foundation's Seeds4Hope research grant program as well as to the Patient Assistance Fund.

Seeds4HOpe funds locally based, new and innovative cancer research by bringing scientists and physicians together to find a way to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.

For Frank Gobbato, the owner of Formula One Collision, when he heard what the boys were up to, he quickly became involved, donating his RV for their uncle to use in accompanying the brothers.

Gobbato's father had passed away three years ago from the disease.

"It affects everybody and I figured this would be a good thing to do," Gobbato said by phone from Windsor.

It just meant less camping time for Gobbato this summer, but he doesn't mind giving up his RV.

"I think there are a lot more important things than me going camping," he said.

The brothers hope to arrive in Windsor in five weeks time.

LiUNA, the Laborers International Union of North America, is serving as their presenting sponsor.

They were sent off from Langley by Danny Halmo, who in 2011 spent four months driving across Canada on his electric bike as part of his B.C. or Bust Food-Bank-a-thon, collecting food and non-perishable food items for local food banks. He wound up collecting 2,500 pounds of food, 25 cartons of diapers and 84 pairs of shoes.