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“The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions - would’ve, could’ve, and should’ve. Fear is contagious, fear is irrational, have a faith in you and don't let your fears control you.”

“Don, your stamina and great heartedness knows no bounds. How you keep your spirits up during physically and mentally challenging adventures and maintain focus is amazing to me.”

— Mark Pearson,
President and CEO,
AXA Financial Inc. (US)

“Simply remarkable! What you have done (charity cycle ride raised $24,000) is an inspiration to all of us....you are truly redefining AXA standards of social and corporate responsibilities.”

— Henri de Castries,
Chairman and CEO,
AXA Group

"Donny, you combines competition with compassion in your efforts to raise money for those in need. You are up to any task, mentally and physically. It was my honor to train and participate in activities with you and call you a friend."

— David J Hammond,
Lieutenant Commander,
United States Navy

“If you didn’t do the charity ride last year, we may not have had the junior high school today. Donny-san because you raised money... we built the school and I can go to junior high school this year”

— Hiro Tamada, Student who entered the junior high spring of 2010, Meisei Gakkuin deaf children school (The Japan Times, Tuesday, May 19, 2009)

When you start facing fear one day at a time its start diapering and you start growing and you will get addicted to that grow.

Biography…

I’m a proud father of a 14-year-old outdoor enthusiast, Haruki-Anthony. From the age of 3, Haruki displayed a passion for physical activity, running 2-3 km at a time—something quite remarkable for his age. When he was diagnosed with ADHD at 5, we chose an unconventional path: instead of relying on medication, I encouraged him to embrace outdoor adventures. Running, swimming, biking, and trail exploration became our antidote. Today, he’s thriving, medication-free, and continues to inspire me every day.

This website was born out of my love for sharing our adventures and inspiring others to step outside their comfort zones. Through our stories from roads, trails, and mountains, I aim to motivate you to take your own leaps—improving relationships, health, mental well-being, and balance in life. Life is short, and I believe in grabbing every moment with both hands.

Breaking Limits and Overcoming Fears

I’ve faced my fair share of challenges, from being denied entry to the U.S. four times (before becoming Canadian) to overcoming a fear of water and crossing the Atlantic on a sailboat. After surviving a life-altering car accident, I was told I’d never participate in competitive sports again. Yet, I’ve completed numerous half-marathons, 25+ cycling races, and have maintained an average of cycling 5,000 km per year for 18 years. My motto? Obstacles are just stepping stones—your path to greatness lies beyond them.

Dreams in Motion

I’ve Looking ahead, I’m preparing for my ultimate dream: cycling around the world with Haruki after he graduates high school in 2027. I want him to explore the world before diving into adulthood. My final dream? Retiring to a quiet life on a sailboat, away from screens and corporate chaos, embracing the serenity of open water.

My Cycling Adventure Cycling Journey

I wasn’t always the picture of an active lifestyle. A college accident left me sidelined from sports for years. Smoking three packs a day and living a sedentary life wasn’t me—and I knew it. One day, I quit smoking cold turkey, bought a second-hand bike, and started riding. The freedom of the open road and the healing power of nature transformed my life. Within a season, I regained my health, and soon, I was competing in mountain bike races like the Sea Otter Classic.

My love for long-distance cycling began with a two-week cycling and camping tour in British Columbia. From there, it grew into a passion for epic journeys. In 1995, I embarked on my first solo tour: a 6,800 km ride from Vancouver to Toronto via San Francisco and New York. Despite injuries, mechanical failures, and countless challenges, I persevered—and discovered the joy of pushing limits.

Whether you’re an experienced adventurer or taking your first steps outdoors, I hope my story inspires you to explore, challenge yourself, and embrace the journey—because the best paths are rarely the easiest.

How, Why and When Did I Start Charity and Fund Raising?

Charity fundraising has been a significant part of my life since 2002, after losing my younger brother to drugs and alcohol. His loss inspired me to dedicate my efforts to helping others and making a positive impact. Over the last decade, I’ve raised nearly CAD $300,000 for various causes and contributed 40% of these funds personally.

Here are some highlights of my fundraising efforts:

Terry Fox Foundation: Designed and led a campaign that raised CAD $247,000 for cancer research.
SickKids Hospital, Toronto: Raised CAD $52,000, with a large personal contribution.
Meisei Gakkuin Deaf School, Japan: Organized two cycling tours (Tokyo to Sapporo and Tokyo to Osaka) and raised $48,000 to fund an extension and playground for the school.
Tohoku Earthquake Relief: In 2012, cycled from Tokyo to Minamisanriku, raising €7,200 for AXA’s Tohoku relief efforts and in 2013, partnered with UNDP to organize another cycling tour, raising $17,000 for earthquake recovery.
Sri Lanka: In 2014, I personally contributed $25,000 to build a classroom and renovate a main school building in an underserved rural village.

My mission is to create meaningful change in communities through physical challenges and personal contributions. You can find more details about these initiatives in the Fundraising and Impacting My Community.

"It has been about 10 days since I finished my tour. It took me weeks to come to terms with that I am no longer cycling. And I no longer need to look for places to pitch my tent or walk into restaurants and offer to wash dishes or prepare food in exchange of food and place to sleep. Often I find tears are falling from my eyes and I don't know why. I guess I miss being on the road, meeting strangers and specially I missed people stooping their cars and asking where I was coming from and where I am going - I miss people stooping by and passing me foods and drinks."

— August 2nd, 1995
Memories of Bicycle Ride Across America (My Bicycle Journal)

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