Albert Koke, an employee of Toronto Community Housing, will start his cycling trip around Lake Erie, on Thursday, September 22 to raise funds for United Way. Pedalling a distance of 1,100 kilometres on his own time, Albert will attempt to complete his ride by noon on Sunday, September 25 (approximately 75 hours), with the hope of raising $30,000 for the 2011 United Way campaign. This year’s ride is a greater challenge than Albert’s 877-kilometre ride around Lake Ontario in 2010, which raised $20,000 for United Way.

What:  1,100-kilometre ride around Lake Erie for United Way

When: Thursday, September 22, 2011
           7 a.m.

Where: Christie Pits Park
           (near Christie Street and Bloor Street West at northeast corner of park)

Albert will ride:
-West to Hamilton, south to Niagara Falls and over the Rainbow Bridge; then
-West from Buffalo to Erie, Pennsylvania, then on through Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio; then
-North to Detroit and across the border in Windsor; then;
-East through Chatham, London, Woodstock and Paris; then
-East to Hamilton, through Waterdown, and east to Toronto

Follow Albert’s ride updates on his blog http://lonepiraterides.wordpress.com/, on Twitter @lonepiraterides or on Facebook (Albert Koke).

Donations can be made directly to the United Way www.unitedwaytoronto.com/albertrides.

About Toronto Community Housing
Toronto Community Housing (www.torontohousing.ca) is Canada's largest social housing provider and home to more than 164,000 tenants with low and moderate incomes -- about six per cent of the City of Toronto's population. Toronto Community Housing employs 1,400 staff in a broad range of jobs, who deliver its mandate to provide affordable housing, connect tenants to services and opportunities, and work together to build healthy communities.

About United Way Toronto
Established in 1956, United Way Toronto is a charity working to advance the common good and create opportunities for a better life for everyone in our city. Working in partnership with others, we mobilize people and resources to address the root causes of social problems and to change community conditions for the better. United Way supports agencies that provide services to strengthen individuals, families, and communities.

Media Contact: Sinead Canavan 416-891-8665 sinead.canavan@torontohousing.ca

Event Day Contact: Tsehaie Makonnen 647-463-7773 tsehaie.makonnen@torontohousing.ca