It Started with a Ride — and the Youth Who Rode Beside Me

Last summer, during Light the Night: Y Ride for Youth, I didn’t ride alone.

I rode alongside young people from the Second Stage Housing Program at the YMCA of the National Capital Region — youth who have experienced homelessness and are working every day to rebuild stability, confidence, and a sense of possibility.

That evening, we gathered at Britannia Park and rode together along the bike paths as the sun set. There was no race. No pressure. Just movement, conversation, and a shared sense of purpose.

Each young person carried a different story. Different challenges. Different goals.

And every one of them reminded me why this work matters.

One young person in particular stayed with me.

Landry had been part of Second Stage for the past year. He had set clear goals for himself — and quietly, steadily, he was meeting them. As we rode side by side along the paths, it was clear he wasn’t focused on where he’d been. He was focused on where he was going.

In that moment, I realized something powerful:

this is what support looks like when it works.

Today, Landry is on the verge of graduating from the program — having met his goals and ready to take his next steps with confidence. His journey is one of many, but it’s the one that made this ride personal for me.

That night didn’t just light up the path ahead.

It lit a fire in me.

And it’s why I’m taking on my biggest challenge yet.

The 2026 Challenge: Riding Farther, Standing Stronger

From April 26 to May 1, 2026, I’ll be taking on one of the toughest endurance races in the world: the Škoda Titan Desert Morocco.

This race spans 496 kilometres over six days, across unforgiving desert terrain, extreme heat, and relentless conditions. It’s designed to test every limit — physical, mental, and emotional.

I’m choosing this challenge intentionally.

Because for the youth supported through Second Stage Housing, the road forward is rarely easy. Progress doesn’t happen overnight. Stability takes time. Confidence is built step by step. And quitting is not an option — even when things get hard.

This race will demand grit, patience, and resilience.

So do the journeys these young people are on.

Every kilometre I ride is in solidarity with them.

Why Second Stage Housing Matters

The YMCA’s Second Stage Housing Program provides more than a roof.

It offers:

● Safe, stable housing;

● Wraparound supports;

● Trusted relationships;

● Time and space to heal, plan, and grow;

● Most importantly, it offers belief — the kind that tells a young person, “You’re worth investing in.”

I’ve seen what happens when youth are given that chance. I’ve ridden beside them. I’ve heard their goals. I’ve watched confidence return.

Landry’s story is one of many — but it’s proof of what’s possible when young people are supported, not rushed; believed in, not written off.

Light the Night: Where This Journey Began

Light the Night isn’t just an event to me — it’s where this commitment deepened.

Riding together through Britannia Park last year, alongside youth, families, staff, and supporters, reminded me that community matters. That visibility matters. That showing up — literally and figuratively — matters.

That ride sparked something bigger.

This challenge is my way of carrying that light forward — farther, harder, and with even greater purpose.

How You Can Be Part of This

I can’t do this alone — and neither can the youth we’re supporting.

Your donation will help ensure young people experiencing homelessness have access to the safety, stability, and support they need to move forward.

Every contribution helps fund:

● Housing stability;

● Life-skills development;

● Case management and wraparound supports; and

● A real chance at a brighter future.

If my ride can help even one more young person reach the point Landry is at now — confident, goal-focused, and ready for what’s next — every kilometre will be worth it.

Thank You for Riding With Me

Whether you donate, share this page, or follow along on this journey — thank you.

Your support tells youth they are seen.

It tells them they matter.

And it reminds them they are not alone.

— Morgan