Fareed Syed
Fareed Syed works at St. Michael’s Hospital, but wanted to do even more for his community. So he launched a fundraiser and rode his bike to Niagara Falls.
Fareed Syed, St. Michael’s operations leader for fire and security, has worked at St. Michael’s Hospital for 32 years. What he has seen and learned over that time has affected him deeply.
“I deal with many people who are living with mental health issues,” he says. “Seeing what they go through has stayed with me. I feel for them.”
So Fareed decided he could do something outside of his work at the hospital. He contacted St. Michael’s Foundation and told them he wanted to raise some money for mental health.
“My idea was to ride my bike to Niagara Falls. The Foundation helped me set up a web page for a do-it-yourself fundraiser. I reached out to family, friends and others. They made pledges. And I hit the road.”
It wasn’t an easy trip. The weather was rainy and gusty, with 40-kilometre headwinds. Fareed, who turns 60 this year, got a flat tire he had to change in Mississauga. Oddly, though, he says that the worse a day it was, the better the ride became.
“The conditions made the whole thing worthwhile. People believed in me. They committed money for me. And I was out there, working hard to do this ride. Do it for them, and for a good cause.”
And in the end, Fareed did it. Toronto to Niagara Falls. He raised nearly $4,000 for mental health.
“I know many of my colleagues feel the same way I do—that it is a privilege to work at St. Michael’s. Doing a fundraiser like I did is a very satisfying way of giving back to the hospital while helping my community.”
To start your own DIY fundraiser, click here.
Donate to St. Michael's Foundation.
