Reflecting back on 2024 a shining achievement rises above the collective memories in our corner of Niagara-on-the-Lake. It’s the story of a family who achieved an unforgettable milestone despite major challenges.
Darek and Christine Lauber and their five children moved to our neighbourhood in 2017. Darek grew up in Akwesasne, exploring the outdoors on the reserve as a child and experiencing the rich cultural traditions of his ancestors. It’s been important to both parents to raise the children to value their family ties as well as encourage an active life outdoors.
After their move to our neighbourhood it didn’t take long for the kids to make friends while rollerblading or skateboarding up and down Wall Rd. Most summer afternoons they could be found exploring the Four Mile Creek or nearby park.
This past spring the family decided to doing something special to honour the tenth anniversary of Darek’s mother’s passing after a long battle with cancer.
“The kids came up with the idea to ride our bikes to Cornwall to raise awareness for cancer. That’s where my mom lived and we still have family,” commented Darek.
After several months of planning the children ages 10 to 19 – Kenny, DJ, Tanisha, Alyssa and Nicholas, wheeled their bicycles out early in the morning of August 2 with their parents. They had no specialized equipment, just regular street bikes. Darek hauled a homemade trailer carrying close to 250 lbs of camping gear and supplies, trading off occasionally with his oldest son.
They made good time to Hamilton however making their way through Toronto on their second day was a less than pleasant experience battling traffic, intense heat and humidity.
They encountered their first major hurdle in Port Hope on day 4 when the back sprocket on Darek’s bike gave out. The rain poured for days while he searched for spare parts in town. They were already feeling the pinch of a very limited budget. Darek was ready to give up, but the rest of the family remained firm in their commitment. After 5 long days the little caravan once again hit the open road.
They learned the Waterfront Trail but was not an efficient way to make time between towns and opted to take Hwy #2 for much of the remainder of the trip.
“We had to be careful of what we could handle with such an age difference. We couldn’t really plan how far we could go or where we would spend the night. We’d set up in fields, conservation areas, sometimes along the lakeshore. “
They relied on simple camping meals, shopping for staples each day to eliminate extra weight. Stopping for coffee at Tim Hortons was the perk to get rolling in the mornings but those became few and far between in the rural areas.
“It took a long time to get going in the mornings because we’d have to make breakfast and repack the tent,” offered Christina.
They travelled daily from 10am to late afternoon when they would prepare a meal and rest before starting off again when the temperatures cooled down.
“Once we rode steady til 2AM until we found a safe place to set up. The kids were really good sports but it was hard to get the them moving in the morning!”
When asked about the challenges Christina was quick to respond.
“Having enough water to stay hydrated was tough because we couldn’t carry the extra weight. And the hills! Once we got past Port Hope there were SO many hills!” she continued. “We were each carrying full knapsacks and saddle bags so it got really hard at times. One time after a really long climb we were out of water. We came to a little stand that said free cucumbers. They were a life saver! A lady came out and offered us water as well. “
“Yeah, I think we would do a few things differently next time, “laughed Darek.
Aggressive drivers who deliberately tried to frighten them were a serious concern. Once Christina was deliberately squeezed off the road resulting in a nasty fall and injured leg. The smirk on the driver’s face added insult to injury and was particularly distressing for the children.
Arriving at the Napanee River was one of the highlights of the trip as they enjoyed a few hours of rest and swimming before pushing on for the last 200 km.
After 11 days of adventures and aching muscles the weary travellers pedalled past the sign welcoming them to Cornwall.
A solid night’s sleep was followed with a turkey dinner the next day and plenty of storytelling around the table. Celebrating their daughter Tanisha’s birthday at a Chinese food restaurant was the perfect way to cap off their Cornwall visit.
Kenny, the youngest, and Alyssa happily accepted the option of returning by train when it became clear their bikes were in no condition to make the long journey home. The remaining five family members began the return journey, this time with a better idea of the route and rest stops.
After logging close to 1300 kilometers on their bikes, the exhausted travellers made it home at 3AM on September 4.
Would they do this again?
“Definitely!” was the resounding reply.
“The experience was really valuable to us as a family. We had different strengths and limits to how far we could push ourselves. Each person had their ‘breaking points’ but we stuck together through it all.” Darek spoke emphatically while Christina nodded in agreement. “Nothing can replace the memories we made!”
It was during those tough times that they felt they really came together as a team.
There were no crowds to cheer them on when they were pushing through the pain or to welcome them home after their epic journey, just the satisfaction of what they achieved together.
Their remarkable accomplishment is a testimony to the power of love, forged by sheer tenacity.
May their example of love, loyalty and humble dedication spread beyond the confines of our little corner of Niagara and encourage others to hold on to their dreams in 2025!