Videos

Craig Gives Back Tour
PSA B-roll footage

Photos

Craig and Lloyd - North Cape PEI

Craig and cycling partner, Lloyd McLean, in North Cape as part of their tip-to-tip ride across Prince Edward Island.
Craig and Lloyd - Confederation Trail PEI

Craig and Lloyd cycling on the Confederation Trail in Prince Edward Island.
Craig and Lloyd Training

Inspired by the likes of Terry Fox and Rick Hansen, Craig wants to motivate Canadians of all ages to overcome their personal challenges and adopt healthy, active lifestyles.
Craig and Lloyd - Hi Res

Craig Aucoin of Pictou, Nova Scotia and his training partner Lloyd McLean are embarking on an 85-day, 8,200-kilometre journey, cycling from St. John’s, NL to Victoria, BC on a unique, tandem recumbent bicycle – the only one of its kind in Canada.
Lloyd McLean, Craig Aucoin at Mile Zero

Craig and Lloyd stopped at the Terry Fox memorial in St. John’s, NL. Along their route, they’ll also be stopping at the Terry Fox memorials in Thunder Bay, ON and Victoria, BC.
Lloyd and Craig - Janus

Craig and Lloyd stop for a photo just outside of St. John’s, NL.
Lloyd - Janus

Lloyd and company at the Official Send-off for Craig Gives Back, hosted at YMCA in St. John’s, NL on Aug. 4, 2013.
Lloyd and Bob - Sydney

Bob MacDonald joined Lloyd in Sydney, NS on Aug. 12, 2013. Bob has been cycling with Lloyd on the Atlena Janus while Craig recovers from an injury.
Lloyd and Craig - Stellarton

Craig, Lloyd and Baldwin celebrate Craig Gives Back at a community celebration hosted by Proudfoot’s Home Hardware in Stellarton, NS on Aug. 13, 2013.
Pictou County Cycle

The Pictou County Cycle team geared up to cycle with Lloyd and Bob from Stellarton to Pictou on Aug. 13, 2013.
Lloyd and Bob - PEI

A few friends joined Lloyd and Bob as they cycled PEI on Aug. 17, 2013.
Charlottetown Community Reception

The Craig Gives Back ‘meet and greet’ in Charlottetown, PE on Aug. 17, 2013.
Lloyd and Bob at Hartland Bridge

Lloyd and Bob at Hartland Bridge, the world’s longest covered bridge in Hartland, NB.
Lloyd and Bob at Woodstock NB

Lloyd and Bob at a Craig Gives Back community celebration hosted by Stewart’s Home Hardware in Woodstock NB
Bob and Flat Stanley at the Quebec-New Brunswick border.

Bob and Flat Stanley at the Quebec-New Brunswick border.
Lloyd, Bob and Marie-Ève of CNIB in Trois-Rivières, QC.

Lloyd, Bob and Marie-Ève of CNIB at a Craig Gives Back community celebration hosted by Quincaillerie M. Plante Home Hardware in Trois-Rivières, QC.
Bob and Lloyd at Parliament Hill

Bob and Lloyd at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, ON.
Lloyd and Bob alongside Craig Gives Back supporters at the Oshawa community celebration

Lloyd and Bob alongside Craig Gives Back supporters at the Oshawa community celebration, hosted by Oshawa West Home Hardware.
Bob and Lloyd at Ballantyne Park in Ottawa, ON.

Bob and Lloyd answering questions while at a Craig Gives Back community celebration at Ballantyne Park in Ottawa, ON.
Lloyd and Bob with Jane and Steve of Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind

Lloyd and Bob with Jane and Steve of Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind. Lloyd, Bob and some of Lloyd’s family made a special visit to the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind office in Manotick, ON.
Bob and Lloyd at the Terry Fox Memorial

Bob and Lloyd at the Terry Fox Memorial in Ottawa, ON.
Lloyd and Bob in Fredericton

Lloyd and Bob at a Craig Gives Back community celebration hosted by Simms Home Hardware in Fredericton, NB.
Lloyd and Bob in Toronto

Lloyd and Bob pull into the CNIB National Office parking lot for a Craig Gives Back community celebration in Toronto, ON.
Craig restarted the ‘virtual’ tour at his local YMCA

Craig is currently at home recovering from two cycling injuries. In the meantime, he’s restarted the ‘virtual’ tour at his local YMCA, so he can continue to cycle alongside Lloyd and Bob.
Lloyd and Bob - Orillia

Lloyd and Bob with the Orillia Home Hardware team.
Lloyd and Bob - Sudbury

Bob and Lloyd at A&J Home Hardware in Sudbury with the local CNIB team and Home Hardware staff member Brigette.
Lloyd - Canoeing in White River

While staying the night in White River, ON, Lloyd, Dave (Lloyd’s brother-in-law) and Luke (Dave’s dog) took the opportunity to enjoy some canoeing.
Bob - Terry Fox Memorial

Bob with the Altena Janus at the Terry Fox Memorial in Thunder Bay, ON.
Lloyd - Terry Fox Memorial

Lloyd at the Terry Fox Memorial in Thunder Bay, ON.
Lloyd and Bob - Thunder Bay

Bob and Lloyd at Memorial Home Hardware in Thunder Bay with CNIB Regional Manager Robert Gaunt.
Bob - Ontario/Manitoba border

Bob at the Ontario/Manitoba border. Manitoba is the seventh province on the Craig Gives Back Cross-Canada Tour.
Lloyd and Bob - Winnipeg

Lloyd and Bob at the Winnipeg Convention Centre with Tim Smith (Lloyd’s brother-in-law).
CGB Canmore

Lloyd and Bob made it to Canmore, AB – their first stop in the Canadian Rockies
CGB - Lake Louise

Lloyd and Bob made a stop in Lake Louise on their way through the Canadian Rockies
Lloyd and Bob - BC

Lloyd and Bob made it to BC – their 10th and final province!
Lloyd and Bob - Golden, BC

Lloyd and Bob stayed overnight in Golden, BC
CGB - Glacier Park

The Craig Gives Back team passed through Glacier Park, BC
Lloyd and Bob - Rogers Pass

After facing some of the most difficult legs of the tour, Lloyd and Bob arrived at the summit of Rogers Pass
Bob - Vernon

The Craig Gives Back team visited Vernon for a Craig Gives Back community celebration
Lloyd and Bob - Kelowna, BC

Lloyd and Bob visited to the CNIB office in Kelowna, BC, where they met the local staff
Lloyd and Bob - Penticton

Lloyd and Bob visited Penticton for a Craig Gives Back community celebration
CGB - Penticton Reception

Lloyd and Bob with staff of Home Hardware Penticton and the CPP Cycling Team
CGB - Finale

Bob MacDonald, Craig Aucoin and Lloyd McLean wrapped up the Craig Gives Back-2-Back Cross Canada Tour at the Terry Fox Memorial Monument in Victoria, B.C. on Sunday, Oct. 27.

Craig and Lloyd - Confederation Trail PEI

Blind cyclist’s cross-country ride wraps up in Victoria

Lloyd Mclean and Bob MacDonald of Pictou, N.S. are not your ordinary cycling enthusiasts. They just finished cycling over 8,260 km as part of an 85-day cross-Canada bicycle tour on behalf of blind cyclist, Craig Aucoin. The national ride raised awareness and funds for three major Canadian charities that helped transform Aucoin’s life: CNIB, Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind and YMCAs in Canada. The Craig Gives Back team concluded their journey at the Terry Fox Memorial Monument in Victoria, B.C. on Sunday, Oct. 27.

“Craig and the team's achievements and their tireless commitment to the cause have been nothing short of inspirational," said John Rafferty, president and CEO of CNIB. "We are proud to work with Craig and Bob, as we work with people of all ages who are blind or partially sighted to provide the personalized rehabilitation support they need to see beyond vision loss, build their independence and pursue their dreams."

As the tour made its way across the country, many inspiring individuals took up Aucoin’s cause – first among them was MacDonald, who is partially sighted, and like Aucoin, has retinitis pigmentosa and is a CNIB client.

After beginning the tour in St. John’s, N.L. on Aug. 4, the inspirational Aucoin was forced to withdraw due to cycling injuries to his Achilles tendon and wrist. To ensure the tour would continue while Aucoin recuperated at home, Aucoin and McLean enlisted the help of friend and avid cyclist MacDonald to occupy the second seat on the bike. Aucoin rejoined the tour alongside McLean and MacDonald in Vancouver on Oct. 23.

Aucoin’s selfless decision to not rejoin the ride until its final legs allowed MacDonald to accomplish one of the goals of the Craig Gives Back ride – for the first blind cyclist to cross Canada coast-to-coast (in this case, from Sydney, N.S. to Victoria, B.C.) on a two-wheeled bicycle.

“I’m very grateful to Bob for stepping in to help. Both he and Lloyd did an incredible job at raising awareness across Canada for three extraordinary causes. The Craig Gives Back team is no longer a pair, we’re a trio – the three of us finished the tour together,” said Aucoin.

The Craig Gives Back team travelled over 8,260 km cross-country on the Altena Janus, a back-to-back recumbent tandem bicycle – the only one of its kind in Canada.

For more information on the Craig Gives Back-to-Back Cross-Canada Bicycle Tour or to make a donation, please visit craiggivesback.ca and 'like' Craig Gives Back on Facebook at facebook.com/craiggivesback.

About the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind
Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind (CGDB) is a national, non-profit, registered, charitable organization that assists visually-impaired Canadians with their mobility by providing and training them in the use of professionally trained Guide Dogs.

About CNIB
CNIB is a registered charity, passionately providing community-based support, knowledge and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life.

About the YMCA
YMCA Canada is a registered charity dedicated to building healthy communities by nurturing the potential of children, teens and young adults, promoting healthy living, fostering social responsibility in order to create lasting personal and social change.

Media contact:
Amelia Schofield, Craig Gives Back
[email protected]
Office: (902) 453.1480 ext. 5727
Mobile: (902) 403.2493

Tweets by @CraigGivesBack

Any questions or inquiries, contact:
Amelia Schofield, Craig Gives Back
(902) 453-1480, ext. 5727
[email protected]

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