A Quesnel teacher and volunteer firefighter is on a 1,000-kilometre bike ride across the province to raise awareness for Honour House.
Amarjit (Archie) Sull, from Quesnel, is cycling with friend and partner Rob Gardiner, and Rick Angeli and Marshall Gellatly, with Inland Truck & Equipment out of Kamloops, on a journey that will take them from Prince George to New Westminster, where Honour House is located, in the Cycling for Courage tour.
The journey is to raise awareness and fundraise for the Honour House Society and Honour Ranch in Ashcroft, where veterans and emergency personnel can stay free of charge while they are receiving medical care and treatments, or if they need a place while a family member is receiving care.
“Our main objective is to bring awareness and support for the Honour House Society, and pay tribute to the military members, the veterans, first responders, and all emergency personnel who serve our communities,” says Sull. “We have to remember that they all served with courage, professionalism, and most importantly, sacrifice. That’s why we say that our ride in Cycling for Courage is ‘fueled by purpose’, to recognize that anyone and everyone who wears a uniform is a person, has a family, and has a story, and that Honour House is there to help them and their families.”
Sull explains that Honour House is run by volunteers and costs around $10,000 per year to run and upkeep. Sull and one of his other cycling partners, Rob Gardiner from Kamloops, came up with the idea to cycle for Honour House and Honour Ranch back in 2018.
Sull, who had used Honour House’s service for his family when his daughter needed to have medical appointments in the Lower Mainland immediately, was on board, and the two started planning for the Cycling for Courage tour in 2022.
“When we stayed there, we just fell in love with it and the concept. We fell in love with the mission, with their commitment to help anyone who serves. We’ve always wanted to give back for how they treated us, and how much they help everyone.”
Inland Truck & Equipment out of Prince George is Sull’s main sponsor, Sull saying the company didn’t hesitate to jump on board and help.
“They had us create a proposal and presentation back in June of last year, and by August, they were on board, and helping us create a website, and anything else we needed to start fundraising,” says Sull.
Since December, Sull and his team have continued to fundraise, and so far have raised over $32,000 for Honour House.
This is the second time Sull has cycled across the province. He did a cycling fundraiser with Gardiner for the BC Children’s Hospital, and raised around $32,000 as well for pediatric and neurology care.
“They were first surprised when we said we were going to bike,” Sull says. “We just ‘Yep, we’re going to start in Quesnel, and we’re going to bike and meet you at Children’s. We’re going to do the hard work.’ You know, us climbing hills, us cycling in the rain, and some now in the Duffy Lake area, sure it’s tough. But we’re going to do the hard work because that work is small compared to what a young child goes through when they’re visiting the Children’s Hospital, and they’re so beyond brave.
Sull and his riding companions ride around 100 kilometres per day to complete the 10-day journey. Sull, Angeli, and Gellatly started in Prince George and rode 125 kilometres to Quesnel on Friday, June 26. His father, Gurnek (Gary) Sull, is the team’s driver and support in the lead vehicle. On Saturday, June 27, the team rode to Williams Lake, then on Sunday they will travel from Lake City to 100 Mile House, then to Cache Creek the next day.
On Wednesday, Sull and the team will be making a stop at the Honour Rance in Ashcroft. Sull hopes that they will finish their tour by Sunday, July 5.
“I now know many first responders and veterans who have used Honour House and Honour Ranch when they were in need, and when their kids were being so brave. It takes so much courage to be there and support people, too, and Honour House is there, and they’re volunteers, they do this to help,” says Sull. “So, we’re excited to have this opportunity, grateful to be part of their objective, and being able to give back; after they helped me and so many others in their and their families’ toughest times.”
Donations can be made at the Cycling for Courage’s website.
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