At 68, Mike Dagenais could easily spend his retirement restoring motorcycles, taking road trips, and enjoying the freedom that comes with decades of hard work. And while he certainly does those things, there’s something else that keeps him busy all year long — giving back to his community.
Mike is a proud member of the Seaway Valley Riders, a Cornwall-based motorcycle club of about 30 members. For the past eight years, he and his fellow riders have organized the Ride for Hospice, an annual event that brings together bikers from across the region to raise funds for the Cornwall Hospice. For the team at Hospice, Ride for Hospice is more than a fundraising event. It’s a symbol of what happens when ordinary people step up to do extraordinary things for people in their community.
“We started the club just to ride together,” Mike recalls. “Every Friday we’d meet up for lunch and a beer, and over time, more people joined in. Before we knew it, we had 25 riders. One day, my buddy and I said, ‘Why don’t we do something with this? We’ve got nothing to lose.’”
That casual conversation turned into a movement. The Seaway Valley Riders chose Hospice Cornwall as their cause, a decision rooted in compassion and connection. “There are a lot of great charities out there, but hospice care touches everyone,” Mike says. “We all know someone who’s come through those doors.”
The first Ride for Hospice, held at the St. Lawrence Pub, far exceeded expectations. “We thought we’d be lucky to raise $5,000,” Mike laughs. “We ended up with $12,000. And we just looked at each other and said, ‘Well, now we can’t stop.’”
Eight years later, the event has grown into a beloved local tradition. Last year alone, the Seaway Valley Riders raised over $43,000, with nearly half coming from year-round fundraising efforts like raffles, draws, and barbecues. “It’s not just one day,” Mike says. “We’re raising money all year long, selling tickets, raffling off TVs, running small events. Every bit counts.”
What makes people like Mike so vital to the fabric of their communities is the initiative they take. Charities like Hospice Cornwall depend on donations to operate, but behind many of those dollars are community champions who volunteer their time, energy, and resources to make good things happen.
“I used to be shy about asking people for support,” Mike admits. “Not anymore. The worst they can say is no. But once people see what we do and that the money stays right here in the community, they open up. Cornwall is a very giving town.”
Indeed, the generosity seems to circle back. Local businesses donate cash and prizes. Patrons at the pub buy tickets again and again. And sometimes, the support comes in unexpected ways, like the man who approached Mike last year with a $4,000 donation from an inheritance. “He told me he wanted to start our year off right,” Mike says, smiling. “Moments like that remind you that people care.”
While some might see motorcycle clubs through a narrow lens, Mike and his crew are helping change that perception. “We get painted with the wrong brush sometimes,” he says. “People hear ‘biker’ and think something else. But at the end of the day, we’re just regular folks doing good things. We like to ride, we like to laugh, and we care about our community.”
Mike and his wife, Sue, who used to ride beside him before health challenges slowed her down, are the heart of much of this effort. Together, they spend hours going door-to-door, approaching businesses, and organizing logistics. “It’s not work,” Mike says simply. “It’s what we love to do.”
For Mike, the motivation is clear. “When I see the impact, when someone comes up to me and says their mom or dad passed at hospice, you realize you’ve made a difference. You know you can’t stop doing it.”
And that’s the quiet beauty of community builders like Mike Dagenais — people who don’t just live in their towns but actively shape them. They remind us that generosity isn’t limited to organizations or annual campaigns. It lives in the individuals who put up their hands and say, “I can help.”
As the Seaway Valley Riders gear up for their ninth Ride for Hospice, Mike is already thinking ahead. “I’ll keep doing this as long as I can,” he says. “And when I can’t ride anymore, I’ll still be helping. It’s something we started, and we can’t stop now.”
Because for Mike, the open road and open heart go hand in hand.