As we gear up for R4//Campfire Circle 2026 and our journey to Quebec City, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on one of the incredible riders who make this journey so special. Meet David Arnold – a rider of team KindHuman and true champion of camp. Since joining the R4//Campfire Circle community in 2023, Dave has made a lasting impact, inspiring those around him with his passion, positivity, and unwavering commitment to Campfire Circle.

Campfire Circle: Can you tell us about yourself and your connection to camp and R4?

David: My wife, Debbi, and I have been long-time supporters of Campfire Circle, having participated in the Sporting Life 10K for many years with our daughters and family. However, my R4 journey truly began in 2023 when a friend sent me a photo and video clip of the R2//NYC crew rolling down Bathurst Street with a police escort. It looked incredible, and I immediately reached out to the Campfire Circle to see how I could get involved. Caley Bornbaum connected me with Elise Yanover, who was recruiting for a new team: Team KindHuman, and before I knew it, my colleague Phil Matthews and I had joined the squad. We rode to NYC in 2024 with Elise and Derek Cardy co-captaining us. Now, I’m thrilled to be returning for my third year, co-captaining Team KindHuman for the second year, and now serving on the leadership team, where I have the incredibly humbling task of designing our routes for 2026! Talk about trying to fill Keld Juulsgaard’s BIG shoes. Gulp!

Campfire Circle: Why do you keep coming back to the ride?

David: I truly believe it is a privilege to be able to ride a bicycle, and an absolute blessing to use that physical ability to give back. I come back because I want to raise as much money as possible so kids with serious illness can experience the joy of camp. When you factor in the flawless organization by the Campfire Circle team and the remarkable community of riders beside you, there is no reason not to return year after year for as long as you physically can. At the end of the day, it is all about the kids. Riding is secondary. Period.

Campfire Circle: What advice would you give to new riders?

David: Soak it all in. Enjoy the ride, the après, the dinners, and be fully present for the morning roll-outs (and… definitely bring some tissues!). There is simply no other fundraising cycling event I know of that comes close to this experience on every level.

Campfire Circle: Can you talk about some of your fundraising strategies?

David: Through my workplace, I actively support over 15 cycle, walk or run fundraising events across the globe, so I tend to kick off my R4 fundraising in August to target donors after they’ve supported other causes. I rely on a couple of different strategies, but all of them focus on the magnitude of the daunting physical effort to push a bike from Toronto to Quebec City and the importance of the cause, through:

Targeted Asks: I’ll curate my list and explicitly ask specific donors to support this ride. I let them know that while I do many events, I want to maximize my impact here and would be incredibly grateful for their support.
The Split Donation: For some regular donors, I will send one email outlining a few marquee causes and simply ask them to split their donation across the ones that resonate with them.
Self-Funding: Finally, my wife and I will look at our own annual giving and personally cover the minimum donation for certain events ourselves.
Donor Matching: For my work colleagues, Debbi and I match dollar for dollar their contributions.

Campfire Circle: What is your favourite R4 memory on the road?

David: Two moments really stand out. The first was rolling into NYC for the first time and seeing my wife, Debbi, waiting for me. I had told her she didn’t have to make the trek, but seeing her there brought out so much emotion that I sobbed in her arms! I was actually so overwhelmed that I completely missed the epic team photo in front of Times Square by like 30 seconds. Oh well. At least the ride is on Strava.

The second was rolling into Kanata. We had a tough end to Day 2, with two riders going down just 5km from the finish. When we arrived, my mom and sister, who had closed up shop early to drive down with a custom sign they made, were waiting by the road. Coming from a tight-knit family, seeing them take time out of their busy lives to cheer us on meant the world to me and brought me to tears all over again.

Campfire Circle: How do you train for this ride, as a group and individually?

David: It’s a mix of both. During the week, my travel and work schedule dictate that I mostly do solo rides, but weekends are dedicated to group riding. Team KindHuman is fairly spread out, with riders based in the US and others well outside the GTA. To bridge the gap, we hold monthly video calls to check in and support each other’s preparation to build team spirit and cohesion. We also organize about eight group riding days for those who can make it, and work on our group riding skills. Everyone signing up knows this is a solid test of endurance, so we spend a lot of time reviewing group riding protocols to ensure a safe and efficient ride for the whole pack.

Campfire Circle: What are you most excited about this year?

David: First and foremost, the impact. I am incredibly excited to see us break a $1.5 million fundraising mark. If everyone digs deep, I know we can get there.

Second, the route itself! As the route designer, I am so excited for Days 2, 3, and 4. Day 2 weaves through spectacular back roads, farms, and lakes into Ottawa – a route made possible by input from Daragh Mansworth and Jamie Boyce. Day 3, with help from Nick Tory and Stu Smith, heads to Tremblant and delivers the climbing our riders asked for; it’s a real contender for the “Queens Stage” – let the debate begin. Finally, Day 4 is in my mind, the “Queen’s Stage”. It’s a 230km day heading to Trois-Rivières via Lac Supérieur, featuring incredibly scenic climbing before a fast, downhill roll hugging the St. Lawrence. Some of us have pre-ridden these routes and cannot wait for everyone to experience them!

Campfire Circle: Can you share a moment on the ride when you were reminded why you fundraise for Campfire Circle?

David: Oh, that’s easy. Last year, on Day 1 in Prince Edward County, there was a Camper Mom (“Katie”) standing on the side of the road holding a sign. My daughters often joke that I’m an “EMO Dad,” and they are entirely right—I burst into tears when I saw her and read it. Our entire KindHuman team stopped to meet her and chat. In that moment, it hit me profoundly: our physical efforts and fundraising efforts actively changed this family’s life. I kept thinking, how many more “Katie’s” are out there begging for our help. I still get choked up just thinking about it.

Campfire Circle: Do you have a final message to anyone?

David: Raise more, Ride hard, Repeat. Will you join me?