June 12, 2024
Members of the AHS Children's Rehabilitation Services team in Red Deer rode and strode to remember a former friend and colleague during May’s Cycle for Central Alberta fundraising event. Photo by Thomas Hope.
The Cycle for Central Alberta event honours the memory of Heather Lawrence, an avid cyclist and pediatric physiotherapist for AHS Children's Rehabilitation Services in Red Deer who died suddenly in July 2022. Photo by Thomas Hope.
Story by Jonathan Koch | Photos by Thomas Hope
RED DEER — Central Albertans remembered a friend and colleague who made a difference for kids while cycling to support Children’s Rehabilitation Services.
Cycle for Central Alberta is a fundraising campaign held annually by the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation in support of local rehabilitation services for children and youth with neurological developmental and medical conditions.
Throughout May, four teams and 45 total participants raised close to $4,000, riding, spinning and striding for over 7,500 km along the way. Manon Therriault, foundation chief executive officer, has been involved since 2021 when she first cycled for more than 13 hours straight to ‘climb’ the virtual equivalent of Mount Everest.
“It's been wonderful meeting new people who are interested in supporting us,” says Therriault. “It just keeps growing and growing year over year. It’s really great to be able to push ourselves and each other to reach our fitness goals while also supporting healthcare needs here in the Central Zone.”
She was also a dear friend of Heather Lawrence, an avid cyclist and pediatric physiotherapist for AHS Children's Rehabilitation Services in Red Deer.
“We were both really passionate about cycling, and we had a connection through Alberta Health Services, so we became very close,” adds Therriault.
Through their friendship, Therriault began to better understand the needs of rehab services, and how the foundation could better support patients and their families.
Tragically, Lawrence’s life was taken in a hit-and-run on July 6, 2022, as she cycled near Red Deer. Cycle for Central Alberta has been held in her memory ever since, with funds raised going towards equipment purchases for Children's Rehabilitation Services.
This is Lori Anne Zabel’s second year participating in Cycle for Central Alberta. The child and youth development specialist was also a former colleague and friend of Lawrence.
“Heather was truly passionate about supporting families,” says Zabel. “She was super creative in coming up with ideas for little people riding their bikes and helping make that a reality, and then just the fact that she was just so absolutely passionate about cycling herself really made me want to get on a bike.”
For this year’s month-long event, Zabel and 21 of her colleagues formed the Red Riders team and cycled on stationary bikes donated by RYDE RD Spin Studio in downtown Red Deer. The Riders smashed their goal, raising more than $1,500, while other colleagues joined them to walk and cycle in support.
Zabel and others also wore bike jerseys emblazoned with “#heatherspassion” to honour Lawrence. “Every time I get on the bike, I can't help but think about my friend”, she adds.
Thomas Hope, manager of Children's Rehabilitation Services, worked with Lawrence for 18 years. He recalls her willingness to assist colleagues across Central Zone.
“Heather had these anatomical models of the hip and ankle to help parents better understand the issues and treatments their children are receiving. Well, everybody in Red Deer would be like, ‘hey, Heather, can I borrow your models?’,” says Hope. “So last year we actually purchased models for all of our physical therapy sites with Cycle for Central Alberta proceeds.
“And that is all because of Heather Lawrence.”
Although she will never get to see the long-term impact of her efforts, Hope says Lawrence’s legacy will last a lifetime for the many people she has helped.
“My gosh, I hope she knew the impact she had on colleagues and families,” adds Hope. “I wish I had told her more often. Now, because of this experience, I try to make sure people know the difference she made in the lives of children and their families.”
