September 5, 2009 – Many of you in the Ontario MTB world know Jim Best. He races. He built bikes and did repairs at his home shop Best Bike Works. He wrenched at lots of events with his trailer as well. He is on the executive committee of TORBA an IMBA regional rep and has done lots of good work helping with trails. Besides that he’s just a great person.

Jim has been having some health problems. They are in fact serious. He has been diagnosed with MS. Lots of people know about this now but many don’t. It seems that the type of medical assistance that Jim is seeking isn’t covered by OHIP (diet advice, naturopathy) therefore there is quite the financial burden for Jim and his family.

Jim’s good friend Gord Wyatt, Jim’s bike club – the MAMBO Kings, Buckwallow Cycling Centre, Cycle Solutions and Ecclestone Cycle, Neilsens cycle, are getting together for a ride to raise funds for Jim’s treatments on Saturday October 3 at Buckwallow. Response has been so strong that it has morphed into what is being affectionately called “BEST FEST”. There are rides between 10 and 1, food, pottery demos, a mountain bike photo exhibit, an Easter Egg hunt and a draw for a bicycle (see below) and probably more as well. Park entry is $8.

The main part of the fundraising effort is a raffle. Tickets are $5.00 each and if you buy 5 tickets you get a 6th for free. Tickets are available at the event. For more info about the raffle. Please note that you don’t have to be at the event to win but we’d love to see you there to offer Jim as much encouragement as we possibly can. Ticket draws will be done at Buckwallow. You can also make a voluntary donation at Best Fest.

The prize in the draw will be a KHS 29″ singlespeed.

The photoexhibit is in two parts for pictures taken of mountainbikers or of places you went to on your mountain bike.
1. A group photo exhibit on Flickr click www.flickr.com/groups/mtbfestival/ “>here
2. Bring a framed print to Bestfestfest and display it for your peers and your subjects. We would love to see what you’ve been doing.

This is our chance to help out someone who has done so much for mountain biking in Ontario. Best Fest isn’t affiliated with anything or anyone. Its just friends helping a friend. We hope you can be part of it.

Buckwallow Cycling Centre is located 4km north of Gravenhurst. Turn right from Hwy 11 North (Gravenhurst Parkway) onto Reay Road East near the KOA.

For more info please contact Gord Wyatt at gwwyat@gmail.com and visit <http://www.bestfest.ca>www.bestfest.ca