Police officers are no strangers to going above and beyond in the name of community service, but this month five West Shore RCMP officers are pulling double duty.
They are part of the 19 rider-strong Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team this year riding 1,200 km over 14 days to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. After months of training, the group starts their cross-Vancouver Island ride on Sept. 23.
For many of them, the ride is personal.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e lost a number of family members to cancer, most recently my father earlier this year,B次元官网网址� said Kris Valentine. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always wanted to participate in the ride, but this year finally pushed me to sign up. IB次元官网网址檓 very happy to be selected this year, and IB次元官网网址檓 always thinking of those family members when IB次元官网网址檓 on the bike.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE: Tour de Rock riders receive official jerseys as 1,200 km charity ride nears
For Rusty Olsen, signing up for the tour came from his connection to Camp Goodtimes as a kid. He said spending time at the camp helped him realize the power of donations to the cancer society.
While the officers are used to having to push themselves through hardship while on the job, they said training for such a long ride, and attending so many fundraising events and visits with the rideB次元官网网址檚 honourary riders B次元官网网址� children who are either battling or have battled cancer B次元官网网址� takes a different kind of dedication that in some ways is easier to come by.
B次元官网网址淭he job is the job, and it has its ups and downs, but with this kind of a group and this kind of a cause, there is nothing but ups,B次元官网网址� said Mason Harrison. B次元官网网址淲hether itB次元官网网址檚 a hard ride or a hard day, there is always something positive about it. You canB次元官网网址檛 say anything that isnB次元官网网址檛 positive about this organization and this group of people.B次元官网网址�
Seeing the community come out to support the riders at their events and on their training rides helps keep everyone moving forward, even if their legs and their lungs are screaming from the effort. Their fellow riders also work to keep everyoneB次元官网网址檚 morale high, especially when they still have to work their regular jobs in between the three rides per week and several fundraising events throughout the training period.
B次元官网网址淲hen you have a bad day, the team is right there to push you forward,B次元官网网址� said Valentine.
B次元官网网址淓very time I hit that sticking point on a hill where youB次元官网网址檙e not sure your legs can fire through it, I just think B次元官网网址榤y niece went through a bunch of rounds of chemo, and if an eight-year-old can do that, I can get up this hill,B次元官网网址� added Scott Hait.
This yearB次元官网网址檚 team of police, emergency services and media riders includes the hefty West Shore RCMP contingent of Hait, Harrison, Olsen, Valentine, and Justin Raycraft. It features two from the Saanich Police Department, Shauna Bainbridge and Nadia Sandhu, and one Esquimalt-based Canadian Military Police member Mary Larkin. The 19-member team also includes Troy Mann from Island District RCMP, Mike Ramsey of Nanaimo RCMP, Wes Richens of North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP, Ajinkya Chodankar of Courtenay Fire Department, Kirk Wolstenholme of Parksville Fire Department, Kayla Carlson of North Cowichan Fire Department and B.C. Emergency Health riders Michael Lowey and Katie Olsen. Media riders this year are Hannah Lelpine of Chek B次元官网网址 and Johnny Novack of Virgin Radio.
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