Eight cyclists from the qathet region battled wind and rain last weekend on a 200-kilometre, two-day bike ride from Cloverdale to Hope, all while raising over $38,000 toward cancer research.
Tour de Cure took place on Saturday, August 24, and Sunday, August 25, with more than 2,000 participants riding for the BC Cancer Foundation, which supports leading clinicians, scientists and researchers searching for new discoveries and improved patient outcomes.
Calling themselves team Tour de Friends, Sarah Bonsor, Sue Scholtz, Kim Leahy, Kim Leach, Christine Behan, Wayne Adams, Tara Schmunk and Mary Payne, all longtime friends, said the outpouring of support from the qathet community went beyond the group’s expectations.
"It was a challenge, especially on the first day when the rain and wind made it a miserable, cold and wet day," said Payne, the main organizer of the group. "It rained throughout our whole ride that day and we got soaked to our bones."
One of the cyclists, Leach, is a cancer survivor and said the ride was epic but gruelling at times.
"It was nothing in comparison to the battle people with cancer face," said Leach. "Riding with our Tour de Friends crew highlighted how together our efforts can make a difference in the lives of so many."
The cycle team said they are especially thankful to the qathet community and businesses that sponsored the group.
"The ride was such a mental challenge for me but so worth it," said Behan. "We have all been affected by cancer in one way or another and we just wanted to do something. We all brought our ‘whys’ with us to inspire and encourage us when we didn’t want to continue, and so at times the emotions ran high, but all in a good way."
Collectively, Tour de Friends raised $38,350 and had support from many qathet-based businesses, including TAWS, Warren Behan Personal Real Estate Corporation, Adams Concrete, Image 1 Salon and Spa, IG Wealth Management, Coast Fitness, eLeadership Academy, Target Installations and Click Modular Homes. The group said they also had support from friends and families who donated.
BC Ferries provided the eight cyclists with complimentary travel to the Lower Mainland.
"The ride was such a mixture of emotion, challenge, pride, joy of giving back, empathy for those who have lost their lives and for those people who continue to fight cancer," said Scholtz.
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