The Cops for Cancer Tour de North is winding down, as the riders arrived in Prince George yesterday. (Tuesday)
12 first responders and community riders are making the 7-day, 850 kilometre journey from Fort St. John to Williams Lake, while raising funds for childhood cancer research.
“It’s been amazing, it’s been a wonderful experience so far,” said Tour de North Coordinator Janine Mendez.
Mendez added while each year is different, they’re all special.
“It just gets more and more special with each community that we visit, and the communities that go out of their way to make our tour such a special event,” she said.
The ride also raises funds for Camp Goodtimes, a place to give kids and families a place where kids can have fun in a medically supervised environment.
Avery Togy, a 12-year-old cancer survivor, said Camp Goodtimes is one of the better programs for children who have or are battling cancer.
“Some kids are in treatment, some kids are out of treatment, I’ve been out of treatment, at the time, six years, seven this year,” he said. “No one judges you at Camp Goodtimes, whereas, like at school, you might get judged a lot.”
Nicole Wiebe, Occupational Safety Officer with the North District RCMP, said the ride has been fantastic so far.
“We have had great weather, everybody is super excited to be out there and having fun,” she said. “We’ve visited quite a few schools, we had a bike rodeo [Monday] in Mackenzie, and that was a lot of fun with the kids, decorating bikes, and teaching them bike safety.”
Constable Chad Fofonoff with the Williams Lake RCMP said it’s been great as well.
“Good weather, can’t complain,” he said. “I mean it’s cold in the mornings, but you dress up for it, and then part way along the way you just shed all your layers off because it gets pretty hot.”
Fofonoff and Wiebe agreed that Tuesday’s trek to Prince George was the toughest stretch they had faced on the journey so far.
“[Tuesday] was about 188 kilometres, so it was definitely the longest day so far,” Fofonoff said.
“Most certainly just because of the distance,” Wiebe added.
This is Wiebe’s second tour, and her first time doing the Fort St. John to Williams Lake route. Each year, the Tour de North swaps between the north-south route and an east-west route that goes between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Wiebe said the elevation has been the biggest difference between the two routes.
“Coming through the Pine Pass [Monday], there was quite a bit of climbing,” she said. “Just steady throughout the day, not any crazy, crazy hills, but you know, takes it out of you.”
Along the way, the riders have been making several community stops. Fofonoff said the community support has been incredible.
“Everybody knows that pediatric cancer is one of those really crappy things that families have to deal with,” he said. “They’re 100 per cent supportive and they’re so glad that we were able to stop along the way and meet up with them.”
Fofonoff added he’s had a lot of cancer in his family, which is just part of why he’s riding.
“Also for another little boy who plays hockey with my daughter in Williams Lake, his name’s Duncan Eckert, and he’s just finishing up his chemotherapy for pediatric cancer,” he said. “I just wanted to let him know I’m riding for him.”
The riders are making their way to Quesnel today (Wednesday), and will finish the journey in Williams Lake tomorrow.
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