Chris Bush has a bone to pick with cancer.

In the last few years, cancer has taken his mother, aunt and three friends, the latter of whom were all close to BushB次元官网网址檚 age of 53.

His aunt, who died in June, is described by Bush, a Black Press photographer based in Nanaimo, as a B次元官网网址渧ibrant woman with no reason to shut down at all.B次元官网网址�

Not one to normally participate in the seemingly weekly five-kilometre local runs for cancer, Bush decided over many months to participate in something a little bigger B次元官网网址� the 2011 Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock.

The bicycle journey will take Bush and 21 Island teammates from Port Hardy to Victoria from Sept. 24 to Oct. 7 to raise money for Camp Goodtimes, a retreat for children with cancer, and pediatric cancer research.

Some of BushB次元官网网址檚 reasons for participating are selfish, some are to help others, while others still are to do his part to drop-kick cancer into the history books.

He wants to do it while he still can.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 grateful at my age to be able to do this. A lot of people canB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� said Bush, the oldest member of the team.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always wanted to cycle the Island and this is a great opportunity. At the same time, IB次元官网网址檓 helping kids and getting a better understanding of what itB次元官网网址檚 all about. ItB次元官网网址檚 hard to overstate how neat this experience has been so far.B次元官网网址�

The training rides are gruelling B次元官网网址� one in mid-July included a ride up the 18-kilometre Strathcona Parkway to Mt. Washington B次元官网网址� but necessary to prepare the riders for the 1,000-kilometre tour that visits nearly every village, town and city along the way.

Hard work, long drives to get to training sites and late dinners aside, Bush said the experience is worth it.

To balance home, work and Tour de Rock responsibilities, heB次元官网网址檚 had to lean on his network of supporters, mostly his wife Laurie. He has also forged many friendships on the team, a group of people he describes as committed and interesting.

B次元官网网址淵ou really get to like your teammates a lot,B次元官网网址� he said.

Team members are made up of police, auxiliary police and media, all of whom need to raise a minimum of $5,000.

Along with training rides, team members are asked to participate in community events leading up to the tour, the most notable for Bush being a visit with children at Camp Goodtimes last week.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be interesting,B次元官网网址� he said, before leaving for the camp. B次元官网网址淚 know itB次元官网网址檚 going to be emotional. Any time youB次元官网网址檙e confronted with kids in a difficult situation itB次元官网网址檚 tough. I wonB次元官网网址檛 know how IB次元官网网址檒l react until I get there.B次元官网网址�

Until the tour officially begins, Bush said heB次元官网网址檚 going to continue to keep pace with the increasing demands that come with being a tour rider. HeB次元官网网址檒l continue to put the kilometres in, do his best to fundraise to meet his goal of $25,000 and continue to have fun.

B次元官网网址淵ou only get one shot at this and thatB次元官网网址檚 it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檓 feeling healthy B次元官网网址� healthy as IB次元官网网址檝e ever been. My clothes are loose, my lungs are healthy, IB次元官网网址檓 tired but itB次元官网网址檚 a good tired.B次元官网网址�