Peter Gowthorpe, Director with Laveer Engineering (left) and Jim Barbour, Chair of the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. Photo submitted

Hub Staff

Registration is now open for the second annual Gran Fondo and the first Gold sponsor is onboard.

Last year's inaugural Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF) fundraising event raised $140,000 towards the new MRI in Owen Sound as well as some much needed medical equipment in Southampton.

SMHF is looking forward to hosting another successful event in 2019 and they're off to a good start with the return of Laveer Engineering Limited, a Silver level sponsor for 2018 has signed on as a Gold sponsor for 2019.

Gold level sponsors receive complementary ride registrations, signage at the start and finish of all four routes and additional recognition both online and at the event.

“We really enjoyed the event in 2018. It was great to see the level of industry and community engagement. The event organization was fantastic which is not always the case with a first-time event," said Peter Gowthorpe, Director with Laveer Engineering in an SMHF media release. "We are looking forward to a bigger and better version of the Gran Fondo in 2019 and seeing more corporations step up and contribute to a fantastic cause," he said.

“The Foundation is absolutely thrilled to have Laveer Engineering return as a sponsor for the Gran Fondo Lake Huron’s second year," said SMHF Executive Director. "The fact that many sponsors have already returned from last year's event shows that they had a positive experience in 2018 and as much fun as we did taking part in the event," she said.

Gran Fondo is set to take place August 18 with the same 30, 70, 110 and 160 kilometre scenic routes. Participants can now take advantage of discounted early registration rates at raceroster.com/events/2019/19988/gran-fondo-lake-huron.