Riding with a Smile

When Brian Bussiere takes off from the start line on May 25 at Ride for the ‘Ridge, he’ll be riding for all of the patients and staff in the systemic therapy suite at the R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre (DRCC).

And he’ll be doing it with the same smile he draws on every cup he hands out to chemotherapy patients in the DRCC.

“It was three years ago that I started doing the smiley cups,” Brian explains. “I had a marker in my pocket and I went to give a cup out and I don’t know why I thought of it, but I did. It’s definitely not artistic,” he says with a laugh.

“I always say ‘service with a smile’, and the reaction on that first one I got was over the top. It’s easy to do and a marker lasts forever so I kept doing it.”

Brian was drawn to volunteering at Lakeridge Health after he retired because of his daughter, who volunteered at our Oshawa Hospital during high school. After 35 years in sales and marketing, he knew where he wanted to be. He has been with Lakeridge Health for six years with one simple goal: to brighten patients’ days.

“They’re my guests,” he explains. “The atmosphere is incredible in the Cancer Centre,” Brian says. “I have people come back and say, ‘You weren’t here last week, can I get a smiley face on my tea?’. I was trying to figure out how many I’ve given out. I make about 12 every Wednesday for 40 weeks a year, so it’s about 500 a year and 1,500 total.”

Now Brian’s goal is to get the smiles out into the community. He’s started circulating smiley face pins and will be wearing a customized jersey for Ride for the ‘Ridge.

“The impetus for the pin was ‘how do I keep the smiles going beyond the Systemic suite?’. I ordered 100 back in December and made my way through them really quickly. So I ordered 100 more and I keep giving them out. It’s been a hit. I get tears, I get smiles, I get everything. With the ride coming up, I thought, ‘I know why I’m doing it, so let’s continue the theme, the logo, and get it out there, so I ordered a custom cycling jersey!’ ”

One guest keeps every smiley face cup Brian gives her. The smiles have even gone viral, with one patient sharing the cup on TikTok. The reel racked up over 130,000 likes.

Brian and the other riders on ‘Team Smiley’ will be drawing inspiration from all of the staff and patients rooting them on in the DRCC.

“The guests are beautiful. They’re fun. The nurses are phenomenal. I always say they have excellent chair-side manner and their professionalism and kindness motivates me!”  he says with a smile. “The cancer centre is not always easy. It’s very emotional. But there’s a great team here. The team of volunteers that cover each shift are amazing! There are heavy moments, but a lot of great moments too. When someone comes back a year later and they ask for you at reception because they want to say ‘hello’ to you? Oh man.”

At least two other Hospital volunteers will be joining Brian on the Ride, with one as as part of ‘Team Smiley’ as they ride the 100 KM route. At the end of April, Brian’s team was the ‘Ride’s top fundraiser.

“I’m a lowercase c cyclist,” Brian says with a laugh. “I’ve told some of the guests and the nursing staff and I just reach out to anyone and everyone I know. I’ve put it out there a few places. I’m not necessarily looking for you to support me, though. I’m looking for you to support the cause. But if you’re interested and you know me, you can support me.”

If you would like to support Team Smiley or ride alongside them at Ride for the ‘Ridge, visit Ride for the 'Ridge - Home - Bike for Health.