Nearly 30 sweaty, spandex-clad cyclists rolled into the Delta police station late Wednesday morning as part of the final leg of this year’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley fundraising ride.
It was day seven of the nine-day annual 800-km bicycle ride from the Fraser Valley up the Fraser Canyon and back, and a comparatively easy one for the makeshift team of cops, paramedics and other emergency service providers to be back pushing pedals in sunny conditions on relatively flat terrain.
“It was a lot easier than a couple of days ago when we made it to Boston Bar and turned around,” said DPD Const. Jeremy Pearce. “It was around 140 kilometres in the rain and somehow it ends up being uphill most of the way no matter which direction you’re going.”
Battling steep inclines is one thing but it’s nothing compared to battling cancer, something the young first responder knows first-hand through watching helplessly as his mother back home in Hamilton, Ont. struggles with a terminal form of the disease.
“She’s actually going to be flying out tomorrow and will get to see me receive an award from my department,” Pearce said.
This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley, which involves stopping in communities along the way to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer research and support services, including Camp Goodtimes, through the Canadian Cancer Society. The Ladner lunch stop featured cake along with BBQ as Sept. 25 also happened to be the birthday of the younger brother of a little boy named Cameron who has been diagnosed with a grade 4 brain tumour and is the main source of inspiration for many of this year’s riders.
Delta Const. Karrie Graham, herself a veteran of three Cops for Cancer rides, also took the opportunity to get a quick haircut while in uniform and donate her long locks to be turned into a wig for kids who’ve lost their own hair from chemotherapy treatment.
Getting a haircut may seem a much easier way to support young cancer survivors than a gruelling, multi-day bike ride, but it’s actually how Cops for Cancer first began. Back in 1994, an Edmonton Police sergeant named Gary Goulet met a young boy who had lost his hair due to chemo and was being bullied by classmates. In an act of solidarity, Goulet and some colleagues shaved their own heads in public act of solidarity intended to cheer the boy up. The Cops for Cancer movement, which perhaps should’ve been more aptly named Cops against Cancer, took off from there. Other fundraising activities now include golf tournaments and other sporting events.
“I think we need to be reminded that Cops for Cancer is one of the largest fundraisers for pediatric cancer research in Canada and since 1997 has raised $42 million,” Deputy Chief Norm Lipinski told the small crowd of supporters to applause.
At the Optimist’s press deadline, this year’s ride had raised a total of $363,644, or 69% of the way to their $525,000 target.
To donate of for more information on Cops for Cancer, go to convio.cancer.ca.
