I always had a love of bikes. I usually got my uncles' hand-me-downs, which were always just a little too big for me. But they always had the neatest gadgets on them. Battery operated turn-signals, streamers, sissy bars...I was too cool. However, because they were too big, I was always falling off and getting hurt. I learned at a young age how to fall off without getting too badly hurt. Another dubious benefit of the crashes was an early education in how to repair and adjust bikes. I think my parents would have been sent to the poor house for all the repair bills if I hadn't managed to figure at least a few things out. I still like to tinkeer on the bikes. We lived out on the edge of town so when I wasn't trying to scrape my hide off, I could be on the quiet country roads in moments. I loved the smell and the feel of the air, even when I passed the barns! Bikes were also the fighter planes and trusty steeds of my imagination. I would spend hours indulging in a fantasy world while I rolled through the countryside. And, yes, I still do. Vic would sometimes ride with me but I don't think he really liked it as quite as much as I did. He never did manage to keep up to me; even after the Olympics. But then again, maybe he wasn't really trying.

Vic was a truly natural athlete; every sport he tried, he did well. But being the older brother, it was often up to me to approach the local kids while they were playing hockey or baseball and ask if my little brother could join. They would roll their eyes at first and then the jaws would drop when this scrappy little kid would paste one outta the park. Growing up with Vic was interesting, to say the least. Baby sitters would quail at the thought of looking after a forty pound chunk of tornado! I was was the easy one; give me a book and I would sit there quietly reading for hours. Vic would be on the roof chasing the cat or trying to start a fire in the freezer....what a handful!

Dad finally managed to corral the little hooligan long enough to get him into organised team sports. Soccer and football were all well and good, but Vic still had too much energy. One time Vic did a swimathon and he just loved swimming so much Dad signed him up to the swim team. His coach, Cliff Barry, recognised the kid flailing along in a sloppy freestyle was in fact a gifted breaststroker. The rest is history.

I was always the loner; I couldn't take to team sports as well as Vic did. I hated relying on other people. At least on the bike, it was me against the clock, or the hill or any other rider. But I still didn't have the self discipline of Vic. While I was coming home from parties, Vic was going to work outs. Imagine being 15 and going to bed at 9 P.M. on a Friday. While he might not have liked it, Vic toughed it out. Clearly, it agreed with him. I chose the party route. I had a bit more fun at the time, but I saw the benfits to discipline and determination. Nobody got Vic's medals for him; he earned them himself. I still love being on a bike. The air rushing over me and the zone I get into on a really long ride are like a strong drug to me. I can just be a part of the landscape, cruising and looking at nature as I pass unobtrusively through. I even like "hot doggin'" through the city; dodging the taxis and the oblivious and getting around a lot faster than most people in cars. I recently learned that the bicycle is probably the most efficient vehicle ever made. A human riding a bike creates more power with less calories burned than a bus, a jet plane, a rocket or any car. This doesn't surprise me.

Following years of declining health leading to death’s doorstep, I received the Gift of Life in the form of a Double Lung Transplant in August of 2006. For this gift and the grace and kindness of my Donor Family, I will always be grateful. I’m now three years post surgery and still haven’t found a reference in the Webster dictionary that does justice to the abundance of my gift. I’ve returned to a complete and contributory life……..I live at full throttle…….. Family, work, teaching, community service……..I run, swim, cycle, ski and on reflection marvel in the fact that there are times that I forget that I was once so weak and sick!

Without organ donation, I simply would not be alive today. It’s an honour and a privilege to participate in the Victor Davis Memorial Ride. I’m riding with Greg to celebrate Victor’s legacy, his family’s vision as Organ Donors and play forward my good fortune in building awareness for Organ and Tissue Donation. Transplants save lives and spare families from grieving and pain. Your decision can impact the lives of so many others. Please show your compassion for mankind, register your consent for Organ and Tissue Donation today!

Eight years ago I started working in the film industry as an assistant director and I’m also a full member of the Director’s Guild of Canada. I have worked in many television series, feature films, TV movies and also documentaries for the History Channel. I am most passionate about documentaries because they are real, factual and extremely informative and interesting. I am Canadian of Italian descent. I’m well travelled and privileged to have lived during my early years in Northern Italy where I was educated. As a child I was involved in many sports but my true passion was horseback riding and I had two show jumping horses. I have won many Blue ribbons and medals! I’m very proud and honoured to be Greg Davis’ manager. I am assisting him with his exciting and worthy endeavour to raise awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation and also to honour his brother, Victor Davis’ memory.

I was born and raised in Toronto worked for the TTC for 30 years retired early and have spent the last few years enjoying the things that interest me. I have cycled across Canada and down the west coast run marathons including Boston traveled and spent many weekends with friends at the cottage. I now live in the Beach and would not live anywhere else.

Hi there. My name is Vanessa Shah. I inherited a swimmers aura naturally, through my ex husband (former Olympic swimmer Frank Hoffmeister), my child who is a competitive swimmer, and her fondness for Victor Davis and the movie "Victor". I met Greg by coincidence last winter, as I had to move, and I needed strong guys ... yes... everyone needs strong guys, and this time it was me. Greg and I struck up a conversation as he pulled the movie"Victor" out of his back pack. Yikes, could it be ... yes Victor Davis's brother. It was like meeting a celebrity for me and for my daughter. When Greg came to me one day, with coffees in hand during our ritual coffee with the "gym guys" .. I had to offer support, encouragement and in the end, see Greg and his vision come together. Myself and Shirley came up with a logo. I took publicity pics, and bombarded Greg with ideas and enthusiasm and tried to help coordinate events that started this whirlwind.. This project has made Greg a new person, and for so many reasons. For that I am proud to be a part of it all.