Despite pounding rain on the final stage, nineteen officers representing fourteen different communities arrived to sunny skies in Rupert last Thursday, joined by a Queen Charlotte Islands paramedic and a sports reporter from Prince George, they brought to an end their grueling campaign on a high note, raising 160,000 dollars for charity.
The Daily news had details on the group's arrival in Prince Rupert and the impact that their fundraising provides for the Canadian Cancer society.
Cops ride into town with huge $160,000 for charity
By Monica Lamb-Yorski
The Daily News
Monday, September 15, 2008
Pages one and five
After a gruelling last leg of pedalling against the pounding rain, the Canadian Cancer Society's Cops for Cancer Tour de North team was thrilled with the sunny welcome they got in Prince Rupert on Thursday.
"Your efforts are a testimony to hope. If we believed that there's nothing we can do about cancer, you might not have done this," said Mayor Herb Pond as he welcomed the riders at Mariner's Park.
Nineteen police officers from 14 different communities and detatchments across the north - including one from the Yukon, a paramedic from the Queen Charlotte Islands and a sports reporter from Prince George took part in the ride from Prince George to Rupert.
More than $160,000 was raised by the team this year and at Thursday's welcoming event, more dollars came from the community of Prince Rupert.
"We could not have done this without the commitment of all the Tour de North participants, the generosity of northern B.C. communities and our tour sponsor RE/MAX Realty, and the inspiration we get from young Canadians who courageously confront cancer every day," said Dennis Nore, revenue development co-ordinator for the society's northern region of its BC/Yukon Division.
Constable Ron Davis, an auxiliary officer from Prince George, has participated in the ride four times.
"It's a great cause. I wasn't riding for any one person but pediatric cancer is the main focus and it's always easy to raise money for children," Const. Davis told the crowd.
Dubbed 'Road Captain' by the team, Const. Davis admitted there were several incidents along the way.
"We are all 'Type A' personalities, so it's like a race, even though we try not to make it one."
He presented three awards to his teammates: the Hungry Hill Award to Terry Mitchell (the QCI paramedic), the Rainbow Summit Award to Const.Jeff Jackson of Fort St. John and the Top Speed Award to Const. Steve Smith from Quesnel.
As each award winner took his turn to speak, it was apparent that each rider has been touched by cancer in some way, either through the death of a family member or colleague or the success stories.
Prince Rupert's representative on the team, Const. John May of the Marine Division had his father, a colleague in a marine section down south, and Makenzie Campbell of Prince Rupert inspiring his ride.
Const. May was greeted by Campbell and her mom, Lisa Kristmanson, with a 'Go John Go' sign she had made to welcome him home.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment