For 27 years bike riders have gathered for the annual Fall Colour Ride to lift cash for the Children’s Health Foundation (CHF) in London, Ont.

The occasion was based by Randy Collins, the proprietor of Hully Gully.

Collins handed away this summer time on the age of 77, so the annual journey has been re-named the ‘Randy Collins Memorial Ride’ his honour.

“This ride has always been close to Randy’s heart, so it’s only it’s only fitting that this be it also now a ride in memoriam for him,” says Paul Goldsmith, a gross sales marketing consultant who has labored at Hully Gully for 23 years.

“Giving back is the culture has been developed over 52 years at Hully Gully by Audrey (Randy’s wife) and Randy, and so this is just one more example of the giving back for the for the community.”

The purpose of the annual journey is to lift $325,000 for the CHF.

“Almost all 90 per cent of the equipment going into children’s hospitals purchased through donor dollars,” says Scott Fortnum, president and CEO of CHF, and was additionally driving Saturday.

“We’ve got everything from the NICU with Panda warmers for little tiny, premature babies the size of a pound of butter, to robot that helps perform epilepsy surgery for kids that can literally cure them of having seizures. So the support we get really does make a difference.”

Close to 100 riders made the journey from London, Ont. to north of Tillsonburg after which again to Hully Gully for a reception.

“The children are our future so that’s why we’re here and we’re going to continue to support them,” says Derrick ‘Maddog’ McClinchey, the street captain of the journey.

“Today is a beautiful day and I think we can only think one person is initials are ‘RC’. Randy is definitely missed here today, but he’s like we can feel his presence.”

Collins and Audrey have at all times been neighborhood supporters, and donated hundreds of {dollars} from their household enterprise. They constructed and funded seven playgrounds in London, together with a totally accessible park in 2021 to mark Hully Gully’s fiftieth anniversary.

The journey will proceed going ahead, with Randy of their hearts.

“Everything’s about family,” says Goldsmith.

“When you go back to even Children’s Health Foundation at Children’s Hospital, seeing what goes on there, that just became a pinnacle foundation to support. With the playground, it was raising good grass roots with family values and we will keep that tradition continuing. It’s about legacy, and it’s our responsibility to carry on all the things we’ve been known to do.”