Toronto, ON – Richard Whittaker, a REALTOR® at Sutton Group – Associates Realty Inc.*, invites everyone to the Pedallers Cabaret 3 at DeSotos Eatery in Toronto beginning at 9 p.m. on June 25.  The event will feature live music, free appetizers, drink specials and silent auction/raffle prizes including ballet lessons, dental services, baked goods and a dinner package at the Royal York Hotel.  All proceeds will benefit the People with AIDS Foundation (PWA) as part of Richard’s fifth Friends for Life Bike Rally.  He anticipates that he will collect more than $3,000 this year bringing his five-year fundraising total to $15,000.

The 600-kilometre bike rally will depart Toronto on July 24 and arrive in Montreal on July 29.  Several hundred participants are expected to make the journey, cycling 100 kilometres each day for six days.  This year, Richard is leading a team of 25 people, most of whom are participating for the first time.  He provides mentorship, coaching and gives them the sense that they are “part of a family”.

“The feeling from contributing to society is quite addictive,” he says with a wry laugh.  “I couldn’t justify my existence if I didn’t help people.  Raising $15,000 for this cause is also a thank you to Canada; I came here about 10-years-ago from the UK.”  No matter his location or age, volunteering has always been a priority.  “I’ve been volunteering since I was about 12-years-old at care facilities.  I played sax and piano and I know a lot of tunes from the 1920s and 1930s, which the older residents appreciated.”

Earlier this month, he held another fundraiser called Star Gazing, which was a private function at the David Dunlop Observatory.  “For anyone who is curious about our solar system, it was a rare opportunity to experience it through a powerful telescope and learn from the experts.”  Star Gazing raised approximately $2,000 for PWA.  Richard would like to thank his sponsors: Efston Science: The Science and Astronomy Superstore (www.escience.ca) and Khan Scope Centre (www.khanscope.com).

Richard expects that this will be his last time cycling in the Friends for Life Bike Rally and would like to reach the $15,000 milestone.  The June 25 event features saxophonist Carrie Chesnutt, Celtic musician Ciaran O’Shea, a cabaret dancer and the band Hot Rods.  Richard also plans to play and sing a couple of songs on the piano.  Admission is free.  For more details, please contact Richard or DeSotos Eatery.

Sutton is a 100% Canadian-owned and operated company with more than 8,700 REALTORS® in over 200 offices nationwide.  To find out more about Sutton, visit www.sutton.com.  To learn more about Sutton Spirit, visit www.suttonspirit.com.

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Sutton Group Realty Services Ltd. Contact:

Gabriel Soh                    604-691-1610          stories@suttonspirit.com

Sutton Group – Associates Realty Inc.* Contact:

Richard Whittaker           416-926-8000          richardjwhittaker@gmail.com

*Independently owned and operated brokerage

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