The Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team was cheered through the West Coast over the weekend and a Ucluetian rider infused a romantic twist into his hometownB次元官网网址檚 celebration.
After introducing his fellow riders to the community at a headshaving fundraising event at the Ucluelet Co-op on Saturday, Ucluelet Fire Chief Rick Geddes called one of his most monumental supporters to centre stage before getting down on one knee and proposing to his now-fiance Donna Monteith.
B次元官网网址淚 was cautiously optimistic. I had a good feeling that she was going to say, B次元官网网址榊es.B次元官网网址� SheB次元官网网址檚 been mentioning the B次元官网网址楳 wordB次元官网网址� a little bit lately and IB次元官网网址檝e sort of tried to downplay things knowing what was to come,B次元官网网址� Geddes told the Westerly B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 be happierB次元官网网址B次元官网网址檓 just the happiest man in the world knowing that she said, B次元官网网址榊es.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
He said he had reached out to Tour de Rock organizers to bring them up to speed on his plan and asked for their permission as he wanted to be careful not to take anything away from the rideB次元官网网址檚 philanthropic cause, but received their blessing and was told no rider had ever proposed on the journey before.
B次元官网网址淲e really are soul matesB次元官网网址heB次元官网网址檚 just an amazing woman,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 really embraced my family, my family has embraced her and we just bond together. It was meant to be.B次元官网网址�
Monteith told the Westerly the couple met in Ucluelet and have been together for three B次元官网网址渁mazingB次元官网网址� years, adding she was B次元官网网址渁bsolutely shockedB次元官网网址� when he proposed.
She said she had initially thought Geddes was going to thank her for her fundraising support.
B次元官网网址淲hen I saw him get down on one knee I immediately knew he wasnB次元官网网址檛 thanking me for fundraising; he was actually probably going to ask me to marry him and I was super excited about it. IB次元官网网址檓 very, very happy to marry him,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淩ick is a man of honour and respect and integrity. I see what he does for the community and his family every day of the week and I just know that heB次元官网网址檚 somebody IB次元官网网址檓 happy to spend the rest of my life withB次元官网网址B次元官网网址檓 still trying to get over the shock of it all, but IB次元官网网址檓 super excited and now I have a wedding to plan.B次元官网网址�
Tour de Rock is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and the Ucluelet stop marks the halfway point of their 1,200 kilometre ride across Vancouver Island, raising support for paediatric cancer research and to help send kids to Camp Goodtimes, which offers experiences to children and families affected by cancer.
Ucluelet has two hometown riders on the team as Geddes is joined by B.C. Ambulance Unit Chief Rachelle Cole, who is currently leading the teamB次元官网网址檚 fundraising efforts, having brought in about $60,000 so far.
Cole told the Westerly the experience has B次元官网网址渆xceeded her expectations in every way.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 am surrounded by supportive, loving people everyday. I am seeing the Island from a different view than I would ever have dreamed of,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e rolling into communities and IB次元官网网址檝e been crying several times a day at every stop. The support across the Island and at the schools, IB次元官网网址檝e never seen anything like it and will probably never experience anything like it again. ItB次元官网网址檚 a once in a lifetime opportunity.B次元官网网址�
Cole is a third generation Ucluetian and said her emotions ran high as she rode into town with her teammates.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 at $60,000 coming out of the West Coast communities as of this week and I have never felt more supported. WeB次元官网网址檙e very fortunate that we live where we live. We love where we live and we take care of each other. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 ask for more. IB次元官网网址檓 crying here today because of the amount of effort that friends, family, colleagues, coworkers, everybody thatB次元官网网址檚 pitched together to help me get the training down and to help me do the fundraising,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about being here and having the opportunity to just be grateful to be in a community thatB次元官网网址檚 given so much to the Tour.B次元官网网址�
Prior to the townB次元官网网址檚 annual headshaving celebration, the team dished out appreciation plaques to the Ucluelet Co-op, which raised $1,060 at a barbecue immediately prior to the ridersB次元官网网址� arrival, as well as the Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Brigade.
B次元官网网址淭he Co-op is such a generous organization and (Co-op general manager Laurie Gehrke) is just amazing. To raise over $1,000 in just a few hours is beyond words,B次元官网网址� Geddes said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 really like to thank the community for its support. Typically Tour de Rock doesnB次元官网网址檛 have two riders from one town, especially a town the size of Ucluelet, but the way this town has really supported both riders is just amazing. ItB次元官网网址檚 what we figured would happen, but still itB次元官网网址檚 amazing that it does happen and to see that community support. WeB次元官网网址檙e just very thankful.B次元官网网址�
He said the team began training in March and is reaping the benefits of the hours spent cycling through cold spring days.
B次元官网网址淲e just kept training and kept moving forward and all that training is really paying off now because the ride has really come together,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓very day weB次元官网网址檙e getting stronger and stronger together.B次元官网网址�
He added the team has an B次元官网网址渁mazing support teamB次元官网网址� keeping them on track as they cycle from town to town basking in each communityB次元官网网址檚 embrace along the way.
B次元官网网址淓very community is so different, but so amazing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just amazing the support weB次元官网网址檙e getting.B次元官网网址�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
Like us on and follow us on
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
