Cyclists do 24 hours on stationary bikes for Pan Am Place

There's going to be more than a few tired folks leaving Winnipeg's Pan Am Boxing Club Sunday.

The Exchange District club's second annual 24-hour stationary bike race kicked off Saturday and intrepid cyclists spent the whole day, night and Sunday morning pedalling for a good cause.

All money raised through the Iron Ride fundraiser will go to Pan Am Place 2, which will give at-risk young women, single mothers and their children supportive housing when it opens in 2019, organizers say. Pan Am Place, which is already operating, offers supportive housing to young men.

"It's a very worthwhile cause," said Gerry Rocan after finishing the first of his four shifts on the pedals Saturday.

"If you look at those people who don't have anything and you look at what you have, it's a good measure to provide something back to the community."

Rocan was part of a team of riders who signed up to take part in the fundraiser, with each taking on a different hour-long leg of the day-long cycle.

His last shift was scheduled between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday morning.

"I'm feeling kind of tough but we'll get through it," he said after that first run, adding the club opened up space for those taking part to rest — and even get some sleep — between their rides.

"We've got dedicated spots where we can go crash to regain a little energy so we can keep on doing what we're doing.

"We're camping out is what we're doing."

Pan Am Place provides roof, training to youth in need

11 years ago

Duration 2:12

A Winnipeg boxing club is trying to take at-risk youth off the streets and offer them a place to live, positive role models and training in the ring. CBC's Jillian Taylor reports.

Founded in 2013, Pan Am Place provides housing, food, and educational and occupational resources for men aged 18-29 who agree to take part in fitness routines and perform a minimum number of volunteer hours each week.

Pan Am Place 2 will help young women work toward independent living with educational, job training, social skills, healthy living and counselling support and programming.

With files from Thomas Asselin

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