Brian Dyck from La Salle and Nancy Bezan of Roland are two riders from southern Manitoba who took part in this year's Cycle of Hope program.

Every year since 1993, riders get together to raise money for Habitat for Humanity Manitoba. This money is used to provide homes for low-income families.

This year's Cycle of Hope took participants through the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

“The roads were good, the hills were difficult, I won't try to minimize that. There were those of us who didn't make every climb,” said Dyck.

Nancy Bezan was taken away by the beauty of the landscape, but she also found the hills to be a challenge despite her training.

“There were some moments where you almost think like, what was I thinking?” she said.

Nany Bezan of Roland will be donating extra money to the Habitat for Humanity Carman Chapter

However, both riders were very thankful for the beautiful weather and the picture-perfect views.

Bezan has been participating for 3 years, while Dyck has cycled through eight events.

This year, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn Carter welcomed the cyclists home as they arrived back in Winnipeg on Thursday.

“This is an incredibly special moment, I think for all of the cyclists, to realize that they'll be able to meet someone this important to the Habitat community and we're just very excited to meet them,” said Dyck.

This year 46 riders took part in the program, and 46 other alumni cyclists joined them for the parade home from Portage to the Assiniboia Downs, said Bezan.

Each cyclist must reach a minimum fund raising amount. If they surpass that goal, the excess cash can then be donated to a local project.

Nancy Bezan surpassed the minimum requirement, and therefore decided to donate the rest of her proceeds to the Carman Habitat Manitoba Chapter.