Pedaling with purpose: Cycling fundraiser sends aid to families in Armenia
Photo courtesy of Dr. Ani Hasserjian
TORONTOHYE—In a remarkable show of determination and compassion, two young Armenian Torontonians, Khoren Mardoyan and Raffi Demirjian, once again put wheels to work for a greater cause. This time, the pair cycled 176 km from Toronto to Niagara Falls on Sept. 6, raising $25,000 for humanitarian aid in Armenia.
Their initiative, titled 'From Real Estate to Real Aid with Vision in Motion,' aimed to deliver immediate, tangible support to vulnerable communities in Armenia, particularly families forcibly displaced from Artsakh and now rebuilding their lives in unfamiliar surroundings. The funds will support two key initiatives: the purchase of a much-needed ambulance for the Armenian-American Wellness Center (Հայ-Ամերիկյան Առողջության Կենտրոն - AAWC) in Yerevan, and the shipment of thousands of medical gloves—donated by GlobalMedic—to hospitals across Armenia, with distribution coordinated by the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA).
This isn't the first time Mardoyan and Demirjian have used the power of cycling to support their homeland. In 2022, the duo biked from Toronto to Ottawa to raise funds for Zinvori Tun Rehabilitation Center (Soldier's Home), a rehabilitation centre in Yerevan that provides free care to soldiers wounded while defending Armenia. That effort was part of a larger fundraising campaign organized by the Armenian Relief Society of Canada.
The 2025 ride expanded on that mission, broadening its focus to address the dire healthcare needs of displaced Armenians. Mardoyan, who was born and raised in Yerevan and frequently visits Armenia, has a deep understanding of the needs on the ground. His familiarity with both the AAWC and the AMAA made him a key figure in identifying and coordinating the two-pronged initiative.
One of the central objectives was the purchase of a new ambulance for the AAWC. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of sisters Lina and Dr. Carmen Balian, who fully covered the cost, this goal became a reality. The vehicle will be used to transport patients and extend emergency services to vulnerable populations, especially in remote and underserved areas of Armenia.
GlobalMedic, a Canadian charity founded in 1998 by Toronto paramedic Rahul Singh, donated thousands of medical gloves for the cause. The organization, established in memory of Singh's late friend David McAntony Gibson, is renowned for delivering humanitarian aid to people affected by poverty, disasters, and conflict. GlobalMedic's “Right Aid to the Right People at the Right Time" ethos made them an ideal partner for this mission. With a history of responding to crises in the South Caucasus, GlobalMedic has provided over 8,000 food hampers and 1,280 emergency kits to displaced families from Artsakh in recent years.
The gloves will be distributed across Armenian hospitals through the AMAA, an organization with longstanding roots in Armenia's healthcare and social service infrastructure.
Additional support for the fundraiser came from the ACMAO - Armenian Canadian Medical Association of Ontario, Metras Shipping & Forwarding, Home Life Vision Realty Brokerage, KM Homes Signature, and many caring individuals in Toronto's Armenian community. A key contributor, Andy Lousararian, helped cover the transportation and shipping expenses, further ensuring the project's success.
This past July, Mardoyan encouraged Dr. Cyril Tahtadjian and a representative from ACMAO to visit the Armenian-American Wellness Center in Yerevan. Founded in the 1990s by Rita Balian of the Armenian American Cultural Association and supported by former Armenian parliamentarian and minister Hranush Hakobyan, the AAWC was established to tackle Armenia's devastating breast cancer crisis.
During the visit, the delegation was warmly received by Centre Director Khatchanoush Hakobyan and staff member Mary Ghazaryan, who provided a detailed tour of the facility. What began as a mammography screening clinic has since evolved into a comprehensive medical center, offering a range of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic services to women and families—especially those who are underserved.
The Centre now includes departments for diagnostic radiology, gynecology, urology, primary care, outpatient surgery, dental services, dermatology, and post-surgical rehabilitation. Thousands of women have benefitted from early detection and life-saving treatment, and the Centre has played a major role in public health education and outreach, often through mobile medical missions in rural areas.
Despite past support from the U.S. Embassy and USAID, funding cuts have made operations more challenging in recent years. The new ambulance and medical gloves are, therefore, timely contributions, enabling the AAWC and AMAA to continue providing accessible and life-saving services.
The September 2023 ethnic cleansing of Artsakh by Azerbaijani forces forced more than 120,000 ethnic Armenians to flee their homes and seek refuge in Armenia. Most arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs. The mass displacement overwhelmed Armenia's already-strained healthcare and social service systems.
While government support has helped in some areas, many families remain in dire need, struggling to secure permanent housing, employment, food, and sometimes even basic hygiene. Initiatives like Mardoyan and Demirjian's offer not only material support, but also emotional reassurance that the global Armenian community has not forgotten them.
Mardoyan's enduring commitment to Armenia, combined with the generous support of the Toronto Armenian community and Canadian humanitarian partners, has once again shown that diaspora-led grassroots action can make a real difference.
"Let us continue our support to our sisters and brothers in our homeland," said a representative of the organizing team. "Every act of solidarity matters—especially when it reaches those who need it most. Whether on two wheels or through compassionate giving, these efforts continue to bridge the distance between Toronto and Armenia—one donation, one kilometre, and one life at a time." ֎
This article was published in Torontohye's Oct. 2025 issue (#218).
