Turning Community Ride into Lasting Support for Praxis

Shim Grand Prix 2026

What began as friends riding for one person has evolved into a community-powered engine for spinal cord injury research.

Shim’s Ride is proving that fundraising doesn’t have to be confined to a gala ballroom or a year-end campaign. Built around cycling, community, and a shared commitment to change outcomes after spinal cord injury, the initiative has become one of the most grassroots-driven fundraising efforts supporting Praxis Spinal Cord Institute.

Founded after cyclist Mathew “Shim” Szymanowski sustained a life-changing spinal cord injury in 2019, the movement started with a 520-kilometre ride from Port Hardy to Victoria organized by close friends. Since then, the community has continued to grow, raising significant funds for spinal cord injury research, rehabilitation, and innovation.

Today, Shim’s Ride has become much more than an annual fundraiser. Its flagship event, Shim’s Grand Prix, transforms Vancouver’s Jonathan Rogers Park into a vibrant celebration of cycling, local businesses, music, food, and purpose with all proceeds supporting Praxis Spinal Cord Institute.

What stands out about Shim’s Ride is not just the dollars raised, it’s the model itself.

Every jersey purchased, coffee sold, race registration completed, and donation made becomes part of a larger story: a community investing directly in the future of spinal cord injury research. Rather than asking people to simply donate, Shim’s Ride creates opportunities for people to belong to a movement and this year’s event was one that brought the community together. A different model for philanthropy.

Together, the work and the support demonstrate how lived experience, community action, and research can create meaningful impact.

This year’s event brought together 300+ riders, 100+ volunteers, dozens of community partners, and hundreds of supporters, demonstrating the growing momentum behind a shared commitment to advancing spinal cord injury research and innovation.

“Shim’s Ride was born from friendship, community, and a shared belief that we could do something meaningful after Shim’s injury. Seeing people come together year after year reminds us that change happens when we move forward together. We’re proud that this community continues to support Praxis and help accelerate research that can transform lives for people living with spinal cord injury.”— Nick Monette, Co-founder, Shim’s Ride.

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Make Your Impact

You can still help move spinal cord injury research forward. Click here to make a difference

Support spinal cord injury research through Praxis: Every contribution helps advance the innovation, collaborations, and research that improve lives of individuals living with SCI across Canada.

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Special thanks to Jakroo, Bici, Forecast Coffee, Red Kilo, Odlum Brown, Cooperwilliams Truman & Ito LLP, Place Architects, GranFondo Whistler, Fauna Components, Pikio Labs, Red Truck Brewing, City of Vancouver, and Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation for helping make Shim’s Grand Prix 2026 possible. Your support extends far beyond race day, fueling research, innovation, and meaningful change for the spinal cord injury community.