The annual Cops for Cancer fundraising project the Tour de North is fast approaching and Corporal John May who will be riding for Prince Rupert's detachment is continuing with his training regimen in anticipation of the September event.
The Daily News had a background piece on the long running and effective awareness and fundraising campaign in their August 19th paper.
Cops for Cancer continues to raise awareness
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Pages one and three
With the Seventh Annual Cops for Cancer Tour de North fast approaching, participating Prince Rupert rider Corporal John May wants the community to know he’s ready for a challenge.
Cpl. May will be one of 25 officers participating in the 866 kilomere ride from Prince George to Prince Rupert next month.
The Tour de North is one of four Cops for Cancer rides in the province and as 2007 riders Blade Ward and Brad Burnett already know, it’s a tiresome journey. The seven day Tour de North will see riders bike through 11 communities, traveling as many as 165 km in one day such as the gruelling peddle from Vanderhoof to Fraser Lake by way of Fort St. James.
Last year was the first time that they extended the trip by including Fort St. James, even though it’s off the Highway 16 track.
”I do lots of mountain biking, but not really road biking,” said Cpl. May. I’ve never really rode in a pack where you stay nice and close to save up to 40 per cent of your energy. Because of the distance between the riders, we haven’t had a chance to meet and practice. It’s going to be a steep learning curve.”
The RCMP Marine Section officer normally spends seven days in a row aboard the Inkster patrolling British Columbia’s coastline and fighting crime.
Beginning September 5, Cpl. May will trade his marine duties and service pistol for a a speed bike and helmet with one goal in mind – fighting pediatric cancer.
He set he feels physically prepared fo the riding, but has heard from previous participants that the real test of endurance comes each afternoon when riders put their bikes away and attend local fundraisers.
“I’ve been told the tougest part is the rush to the event after riding all day and taking a quick shower,” said Cpl. May. “You stay up until 10 or 11 at night and then wake up to do it all over again.”
In addition to his own personal fundraising efforts, Cpl. May is hoping to receive donations through a fund-raising dinner and silent auction, set for Friday August 29 at chances Event Centre/
Tickets are $25 and are available at Re/Max Tinker Realty, The Northern View, Cooks Jewellers and the Prince Rupert RCMP Detachment.
Silent auction items are also still needed to make the event as successful as possible, even though Cpl. May said many great items have already been donated.
If you have an item you wish to donate to the silent auction, please call Elaine Hembroff 250-624-4331 or Bonnie Repole at 250-622-7069.
In 2006the Tour de North raised roughly $170,000, and last year’s 21 riders surpassed that with $250,000.
With several more riders this year and even larger public awareness for the event, the RCMP, Re/Max Tinker Realty, the Canadian Caner Society and all other sponsoring groups are extremely hopeful 2008 will see even more money raised to fight childhood cancers.
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