It was a pleasant surprise to be asked to consider applying for a Community Leader Award. Honestly I wasn’t sure if anyone would be up for it and nobody on our team of four had ever participated in an event like this. There are a lot of reasons why someone might decide against participating; doubts over physical ability, apprehensions about fundraising, vulnerability and anxiety about a group event. While the removal of registration fees and fundraising requirements helps make the decision a little easier by removing those barriers, holding dedicated space for often marginalized communities to join and participate on their own terms is just as important. Thanks to the Climate Ride staff for being super helpful and supportive!