A group of police officers and other emergency responders are riding 800 kilometres through the Fraser Valley to raise money for childhood cancer research.
The 25th annual Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley runs Sept. 13 to 20. The team consists of police officers, paramedics, dispatchers, sheriffs and corrections staff who will cycle from Tsawwassen to Langley, Aldergrove to Chilliwack, Hope to Boston Bar and many places in between, said retired RCMP officer Krista Vrolyk.
The team's fundraising goal is $320,000, and as of Friday morning (Sept. 13) they had raised more than $158,000 for childhood cancer research and support services at the Canadian Cancer Society.
Cops for Cancer is the largest national fundraiser for pediatric cancer research and pediatric support programs in Canada. Money raised also supports programs like Camp Goodtimes where kids with cancer can "just be kids."
"We support local families who have children battling cancer and celebrate those who have beat cancer," Vrolyk said. "One child with cancer is one too many and being able to connect with kids and families in their community to provide a smile, support, and hope is what it's all about."
The team will be stopping at various locations in Yarrow, Chilliwack and beyond from Sept. 14 to 16.
This weekend, the team will start their day in Aldergrove on Saturday, Sept. 14. They'll cycle east through Abbotsford and will stop at Pioneer Park in Yarrow from approximately 11:20 a.m. to 11:55 a.m.
"We invite the community to come to Yarrow's Pioneer Park to cheer them on and connect with the team. Bring the kids to check out the police motorcycles and to meet the riders," Vrolyk said.
From Yarrow, they head into Chilliwack, stopping at Save-On-Foods Cottonwood for lunch from 12:05 p.m. to 12:55 p.m.
After that, they will be visiting other business sponsors in Chilliwack.
A special rider meet-and-greet is taking place in the courtyard at District 1881 from about 2:35 p.m. until just after 3 p.m. on Saturday. Bow and Stern is donating $5 from every fish-and-chips meal sold on Sept. 14 to Cops for Cancer.
All stop times on the ride are approximate.
Sunday, Sept. 15th will be the gruelling grind from Hope to Boston Bar and back again. The team leaves Camp Squeah and rides north through Spuzzum First Nation and then all the way up to Boston Bar before riding back to Hope. Meals are provided for the team by various communities, businesses and organizations on their route.
On Monday, they will be visiting eight schools in the Chilliwack area before pedalling to Abbotsford for the night.
To donate to the Tour de Valley team, or to a specific rider on the team, go to support.cancer.ca/site/TR?fr_id=29670&pg=entry.
An estimated 1,050 children (ages 0-14) are expected to have faced a cancer diagnosis in 2023. As the largest charitable funder of childhood cancer research in Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society has invested $14.7 million toward the cause over the last five years. This investment is contributing to improved outcomes as the five-year survival rate for childhood cancer is now 84 per cent, an increase from 71 per cent in the 1980s. However, two out of three children diagnosed with cancer suffer long-term or late side effects from their treatment.
