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Man biking from Victoria to Tuktoyaktuk for animal rescue fundraiser

Paul Hayes knows all about how expensive medical bills can be for a pet.
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Paul Hayes and his best friend Cinder stop for a photo after making their way into Inuvik after biking all the way from Victoria, B.C. The inseparable pair are fundraising for Broken Promises Rescue Society to give back after CinderSA国际影视传媒檚 surgery bills racked up over $5,000. Photo courtesy of Paul Hayes

Paul Hayes knows all about how expensive medical bills can be for a pet.

The Victoria-based adventure-cyclistSA国际影视传媒檚 loyal riding companion, a Siberian-Husky Shepherd named Cinder, needed extensive Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair surgery in 2020. Healing his best friend ended up costing Hayes over $5,000. He was able to cover the costs of the surgery through fundraising, but admits the experience was a nightmare.

SA国际影视传媒淧et bills can be very, very expensive,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淢y dog has surgery on her knee, it was very costly.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e done a lot of bike touring under the umbrella of giving back and this time itSA国际影视传媒檚 for animals.SA国际影视传媒

Now that sheSA国际影视传媒檚 recovered, Cinder and Hayes are on the road again to fundraise for the charity Broken Promises Rescue, which helps cover the costs of vital medical procedures for animals, as well as rescuing abandoned animals from across Canada and finding them new homes. Which is what has brought him here to Inuvik SA国际影视传媒 to help him reach his fundraising goal, Hayes and Cinder have made the 3,230 kilometre journey alone and reached Tuktoyaktuk in the afternoon of Aug. 23.  They were met by hamlet officials and presented with an official Tuktoyaktuk t-shirt.

                                            Cinder is all smiles as her companion Paul Hayes takes her up the hills as they cross into the Northwest Territories. The duo are making their way to the Arctic coast to raise money for an animal rescue society. Photo courtesy of Paul Hayes
Cinder is all smiles as her companion Paul Hayes takes her up the hills as they cross into the Northwest Territories. The duo are making their way to the Arctic coast to raise money for an animal rescue society. Photo courtesy of Paul Hayes

The inseparable pair set out on July 16 and reached Inuvik Aug. 21, making most of the journey in just 32 days with a short break in the middle, camping as they went. They set out from Victoria to Port Hardy, B.C. before turning northwards to Prince Rupert, onward to Whitehorse and Dawson City. Hayes kept himself fed on dehydrated food and water as he towed his friend along in a small bike trailer.

As one might expect, biking up the west coast into the Yukon and then into the Mackenzie Delta has its difficulties, but Hayes said biking up the Dempster Highway was an experience he would never forget.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Dempster really tested us. We can across poor weather, we came across wildlife, it definitely made us face our fears,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou can choose courage or comfort but you canSA国际影视传媒檛 have it at the same time. That kind of applies to the Dempster. It was a great battle to get to this point.SA国际影视传媒

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been one heck of a ride for the two adventurers, who along the way have braved heavy traffic, the elements and even a mother bear.

SA国际影视传媒淲e left Eagle Plains and the weather was really bad, so going up to the NWT border didnSA国际影视传媒檛 make much sense because we felt we would be really exposed to the wind out there,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淪o we decided we would take a chance and camp in the day-shelter that they have at Rock River. When we were leaving, about five kilometres north we saw the mother and two cubs.

SA国际影视传媒淪o before we had to go past them I made sure my dog was leashed up on a roll bar and I flagged down a motorcyclist and we went passed them. Cinder was on her best behaviour, she didnSA国际影视传媒檛 bark or anything.SA国际影视传媒

Using a , Hayes is closing in on his $20,000 goal. Broken Promises Rescue spent over $120,000 on vet bills in 2020.

But for Hayes, the journey and the experiences had on the way is the real prize.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople just stop and ask if I need anything, He said. SA国际影视传媒淭wo days ago I had a roadside dinner, with bannock, caribou and dried fish SA国际影视传媒攚hich I really appreciate.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e met so many incredible people along the way. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 constant communication up and down the Dempster and I love that.SA国际影视传媒



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