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As a former competitive cyclist, I had the privilege (and a ton of fun!) participating in one of The Inside Ride cycling events
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Meet our Team
The Lead Team of The Inside Ride is composed of Larry Optis, Michael Sharpe and Lori O’Hara-Hoke. Together they bring a depth to Event Project Management and excellence in execution that sets The Inside Ride apart as a professional and polished team building and fundraising event that your organization will remember fondly for years to come.
Our backup crew that participates regularly through the year is also highly experienced and includes event crew, police officers, fire fighters, educators, nurses, corporate executives, Coast to Coast Foundation members and volunteers, cyclists, childhood cancer survivors and their families, and many others who volunteer their time.
Behind the scenes at the Coast To Coast Against Cancer Foundation are Kristin Douma, our manager of donations and administration and Danny Cagen, our creative and energetic webmaster. We also rely on key volunteers and accomplished cyclists Keith Smith and Lynne Jenkins in the Eastern Ontario
area as an integral part of our team.
Together we are a team. Together we all reach for our goal of a “Destination Beyond Cancer” for children, teens, and young adults everywhere.
Profile of your lead team:
Lori O'Hara-Hoke »
- Inside Ride Program Manager: lead for coordination and communication with schools and organizations, presentations, school assemblies, event database management, documentation, process, expense management and supports event execution.
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BACKGROUNDER:
- North American project manager for SAP implementations and upgrades and business process re-engineering projects
- IT professional experienced in programming, end user and application support, disaster recovery team member, ITIL & TQM process initiatives
- 20 year volunteer in coaching, support, organizer, helper roles and board member for various organizations
- Personal team of cycling friends and family have fundraised over $55K in 3 years for the Coast To Coast Against Cancer Foundation
- Ranked 5th in the world in 1995: women’s masters 100 & 200 metre butterfly; U.S. Masters’ Championships, 1996: 3 gold, 2 silver, 1 Canadian Relay record;
- Hons.B.Sc. University of Toronto Microbiology/Human Biology
- Canadian National Swim Team Member 1977-81
Larry Optis »
- Inside Ride Event Manager Inside Ride 2007 – present: Host and Emcee; presentations, assemblies, planning and execution of operational event functions, logistics and equipment management, bicycle mechanic, site assessments and crew manager.
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BACKGROUNDER:
- Crew Chief – Furnace 508 Cycling Race October 2009 for Ross Rader who placed 12th in the 508 mile race through Death Valley
- Crew Chief – Cross Ontario Cycling Race May 2009 for Ross Rader who set a new Ultra Marathon Cycling Association record
- RAAM 2007 – Completed solo bicycle race across America
- Crew Lead Sears National Kids Cancer Ride 2008
- Cyclist at Tour For Kids, 2004 – 2007; Crew Lead in 2008
- Cycled solo from Toronto to Key West at the age of 18
- Certified personal trainer and fitness instructor in the Toronto area.
Michael Sharpe »
- Inside Ride Event Manager Inside Ride 2007 – present: Professional Host and Emcee; presentations, planning and execution of operational event functions, supporting logistics and equipment and consumables management, site assessments and crew manager.
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BACKGROUNDER:
- Announcer/Emcee for many charity, grand scale, national, and Olympic events; exemplary talent to motivate and inspire
- Logistics Supervisor / Team Leader, Sears National Kids Cancer Ride, 2007 – present
- Road Chief / Logistics Supervisor - Tour For Kids LTD, 2004 - 2009
- Project Race Manager - Eco-Challenge North Championship (televised), 2003 – 2004 & Canadian Championship (televised) 2002 - 2003
- Arts and Culture Coordinator / Media Relations Consultant - 2008 Olympic Bid Committee, Toronto, 1999 – 2001
- Fluent in American Sign Language
- Television voiceover narrator for the blind
