A group of residents at Tapestry at Victoria Harbour raised just over $3,100 for the Victoria Hospice last fall, thanks to the motivation and effort of a few key people and support from the broader Tapestry community.

The main organizer of the event was Don Ross, a former Tapestry resident who had a very personal connection to the hospice as his wife spent her last days there. Sadly, Don himself passed away later in the fall of 2023, which was a big loss to the Tapestry community. “His heart is still here,” says his event co-organizer and fellow Tapestry resident Pat.

Through his contacts, Don had initially invited a speaker from the hospice to present at Tapestry. The hospice hosts an annual “Cycle for Life Tour” fundraiser event, and that led Don to the idea of hosting a similar, smaller event at Tapestry.

Pat, whose husband was also at the Victoria Hospice when he passed away, was happy to help plan and organize the event. She coordinated the snacks for the cyclists at the end of their route and helped to promote the event, which she says came together in just three short weeks. A retired nurse, Pat also has a strong history of volunteering in the community.

On September 14, 2023, three Tapestry residents, Phyll, Liz and Richard, rode their bicycles for two hours from Victoria to Sydney and back, a journey of roughly 60 kilometres. Richard says that some other cyclists who had ridden for the hospice at past events also joined their group, for a total of seven riders.

Tapestry residents who didn’t participate in the bicycle ride were still able to support the hospice in the form of pledges.

The physical preparation for the hospice ride included increasingly longer practice rides, with some Tapestry employees also participating, including General Manager Amber Reis. “This event exemplifies the incredible sense of community we have here at Tapestry, where like-minded residents come together to support one another and create opportunities for a good cause,” Amber says.

Richard, who with his wife Barbara moved to Tapestry from Portland, Oregon in April 2023, says the hospice ride helped to reinvigorate his love of cycling.

Due to a number of factors, Richard – who describes himself as more of “a Sunday cyclist” – had significantly reduced his time cycling around Portland. Shortly after moving in to Tapestry, he struck up a conversation with two long-time residents, Liz and Phyll, who were happy to give him all the “ins and outs” of cycling in Victoria.

“They were my guides. They gave me a good sense of the local bicycle paths,” Richard says. Soon, Richard was joining Phyll and Liz on longer and longer regular bicycle rides.

Having previously participated in a city-wide ride in Portland called “The Providence Bridge Pedal”, Richard had heard about a similar event in Victoria, but wasn’t sure if he wanted to cycle in that big of a crowd. When the idea of the hospice fundraiser came up, Richard says he was game to participate and felt that he had rebuilt his stamina enough through his regular rides with Liz and Phyll.

Richard adds that participating in the hospice ride not only helped him be more active again, it also helped him push his personal boundaries. “It gave me a goal and a sense of pushing my limits. It really did extend my boundaries and my sense of my capacity and stamina and I really appreciated that,” he says. “This experience has encouraged me in a lot of ways to think about wellness and healthy aging.”

A retired psychotherapist, Richard is also well aware of the mental health benefits from regular exercise. “None of us are immune to periods of low mood and anxiety,” he says, “Exercise really does benefit outlook and mood and your sense of well-being.” Richard also participates in ping pong and paddle ball and has been an avid yoga practitioner.

Richard confirms that the atmosphere at Tapestry has solidified that he and Barbara made the right move. “One of the things about living here that is ‘golden’ is the community,” he says. “The people here come up with their own ideas, they encourage each other and are willing to walk, ride or kayak or whatever with other community members.”

If you are looking for a vibrant retirement community where active living and being connected with the surrounding neighbourhood are part of your everyday life, then consider a move to Tapestry. Please contact us and we would be pleased to host you for lunch and a tour.