To the sound of cheering school children, law enforcement and emergency services personnel participating in Tour de Rock pulled into PEXSISEN Elementary School in Langford on Oct. 2 for a well-earned and memorable pit-stop.
Their arrival at the school marked day 12 of the 1,200-kilometre cycling challenge across Vanouver Island, also known as Cops for Cancer, which aims to raise $1 million for the Canadian Cancer Society.
The riders were welcomed by students from both PEXSISEN and Centre Mountain Lellum Middle schools, who had prepared a barbecue lunch to refuel the team.
But before they could sit down to eat, the team had cause to celebrate as PEXSISEN staff and students presented a cheque for $2,228, money raised by the school's community to support the cause.
As part of the festivities, Corr Marley, PEXISSENB次元官网网址檚 student engagement facilitator, chopped off some of her hair with the help of her 16-year-old son River, a Belmont High student, for charity.
B次元官网网址淢iss Corr looks so beautiful,B次元官网网址� said PEXISSEN principal Karen DeCicco, who got a cheer in response from the school children watching.
MarleyB次元官网网址檚 hair will be donated to Wigs for Kids, a charity that supplies free real hair wigs to B.C. children affected by cancer or other life-threatening illnesses.
B次元官网网址淚t takes about three and a half years to get the hair this long,B次元官网网址� says Marley, who reveals this is her fifth time donating hair. B次元官网网址淭hen I cut it and donate it.B次元官网网址�
Normally done at home without a team of enthusiastic school kids cheering her on, Marley says her hair donation has prompted some thought-provoking conversations with students.
B次元官网网址淚 had a lot of kids come to me today and yesterday telling me my hair was long and beautiful and not to cut it,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淪o it started a lot of conversations around kindness and helping people that need it.B次元官网网址�
Joining in on the fun was West Shore RCMP Const. Mark Hall, who shaved his head in solidarity with his colleagues taking part in the cycling challenge, and those in the community affected by cancer.
B次元官网网址淗opefully, this shows the kids the importance of community,B次元官网网址� says Hall, who is also the school liaison officer for PEXISSEN. B次元官网网址淲e're all in it together.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵ou can do his back too,B次元官网网址� joked Victoria Police Department's Sgt. Kris Greffard, HallB次元官网网址檚 partner, as more of the officer's hair fell to the floor.
B次元官网网址淚t was a beautiful event,B次元官网网址� said DeCicco in summary. B次元官网网址淭his was a way for us all to pay attention to each other and the things that matter in our community B次元官网网址� there was a ton of energy out there.B次元官网网址�
The riders are scheduled to finish their epic challenge on Friday (Oct. 4) in Victoria.
