Green Party deputy jailed
Report into crash released
Killer on the loose
Facial recognition at border?
PM ups attacks on Poilievre
CRA will get the money: PM
Ukraine uses new missiles
Biden signs war aid measure
New US rules for airlines 
BoC officials split on rate cut
Big loss for Boeing 
Metro sales edged higher
Vees dominating Vipers
Warriors snakebitten in loss
Iginla off to Europe
Coachella fined $28K
Those are her nipples
Kanye to launch porn studio
There was rain and lots of mud but that didn’t deter hundreds of happy riders who took in what might be the last Test of Humanity race through the hills of Cartwright Mountain in Summerland on Sunday afternoon.
After nine years of successful fundraising and huge turnouts of mountain biking enthusiasts, organizers Nic and Sheilagh Seaton are taking a much-deserved break.
“What Nic and Shae have accomplished here, there is just so much to celebrate,” said Lisa Prowse, co-owner of title-sponsor Bike Barn.
“I don’t think we feel sad that this is the last Test of Humanity. I think it’s a time to feel good about everything that’s been accomplished,” she said.
This year’s Test of Humanity raised a record $75,000 in pledges alone. That doesn’t include thousands of dollars in additional donations that haven’t been tallied yet.
In its nine years, the mountain bike race has raised more than $465,000 to support Canadian Humanitarian’s education projects for children in Ethiopia.
Lisa Prowse and husband Chris helped organize the event and get the trails ready for the race. Lisa also made all the pottery trophy mugs each winner receives.
“We must say a big thank you to Lisa and Chris because without them, this race wouldn’t be possible,” said Nic on Sunday. “Lisa has put in about 400 hours into making all the trophies over the years and to top it off they raised $10,000 in pledges this year too!”
Another reason the event will be going on hiatus is the District of Summerland’s plans to place its solar energy project on Cartwright Mountain, which could impact the race.
The Test of Humanity features four different age categories, ranging from the half hour test (ages three to six) all the way up to the four hour test (ages 16 and over). The race takes place on a 10.2 kilometre loop from Cartwright Mountain along the hills and turns above Garnet Valley.
The trails are well marked and kept to perfection, making it a rider’s dream course with challenging turns and twists, said many after the race.
Phoebe Chalmers, a young Summerland rider, took first place in the women’s two hour test. She was asked if the rain and mud impacted her race.
“Not at all. The trails were in great shape and the mud made it more fun,” she said. Phoebe and her family regularly ride the trails around Cartwright Mountain.
Riders have been coming from all around Western Canada to take part but the core riders and donations are locally-grown.
Newlyweds Peter Maser and Claude Roberto are so passionate about the cause they asked their wedding guests to donate to Test of Humanity instead of buying gifts for them.
“I worked in Africa for many years and I know how badly aid is needed and appreciated there,” said Maser who came in third in the E-bike race. “My wife and I made this donation in support of Nic and Shae’s amazing work and in support for Africa as well as the local cycling community too.”
He credited the Test of Humanity for bringing awareness to the "amazing" cycling community there is in Summerland.
 Race founder Nic Seaton said the decision to make this year the last was a tough one.
“The race has been really successful and we would love to continue as we believe strongly in the work that is done by Canadian Humanitarian in Ethiopia, but we need to take at least a year off and then see if there is some other way we can continue to involve the mountain bike community and support Canadian Humanitarian,” he told Castanet last week.
The funds raised from Test of Humanity has had tangible results in Africa, Nic added.
