Update: Yutaro's ride has been rescheduled to Aug. 8 due to a hip injury he sustained when he was struck by a vehicle earlier this summer.
An intern on the Sunshine Coast is going the distance trying to raise money for the local SPCA, who are in dire need of a new heat pump.
Yutaro Kanda is working as an intern for the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association (SCCSA) and tries to use his passion for exercise to create a positive impact.
Kanada will be riding his bike from Langdale to Egmont and back again, roughly 170 km on July 25 to raise $10,000 for the Sechelt SPCA’s new pump.
SCCSA has worked with the local SPCA branch in the past, recently installing new solar panels along its roof and solar hot water systems, when the topic for the new heat pump came up, Kanda thought about how he could help.
He explained that the SPCA is using a broken natural gas boiler, which can be difficult for staff and animals, especially in the winter.
As well as providing more consistent heat, the new pump will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Kanda explained.
The fundraiser includes a free solar evaluation from SCCSA for donations of $300 or higher, as well as a free evaluation to a chosen winner among those who donate $25.
“It's a big distance, and it's gonna be challenging for me. But if it were easy, everyone would do it,” Kanda said. “It’s meaningful because it’s challenging.”
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
