The two riders from the West Shore taking part in this yearB次元官网网址檚 Tour de Rock are on a mission to set a record they hope will be broken next year.
West Shore RCMP Const. Cole Brewer and View Royal firefighter David Brown are both bent on helping the 2017 Tour de Rock team surpass last yearB次元官网网址檚 total of $1.8 million raised to fund research and support programs for kids with cancer.
The two have been training since March for the gruelling event, a ride of more than 1,000 kilometres that begins on Sept. 23 in Port Alice and ends Oct. 6 in Victoria. The team was officially announced earlier this month in Sooke.
Although Brewer lost his father to cancer five years ago, his motivation to take part in the Tour goes beyond the loss of a parent.
B次元官网网址淓very year in B.C., 134 children are diagnosed with cancer,B次元官网网址� he said. The B次元官网网址淎s a parent, I canB次元官网网址檛 imagine losing a child to that disease.B次元官网网址�
Brown, whose father is a cancer survivor, said he is drawing from the experience he gained fundraising for leukemia and lymphoma. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e seen first-hand the difference it makes,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 nice to be able to help vulnerable people in the community dealing with pediatric and other forms of cancer.B次元官网网址�
Both riders have pledged to exceed the $5,000 total in fundraising each rider is obliged to raise. Brown is aiming for $25,000, a goal he believes will be easier to accomplish by working together on a variety of initiatives.
B次元官网网址淰iew Royal and the West Shore detachment have a really good working relationship serving the community B次元官网网址� that benefits the community as a whole,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that should translate to success at fundraising as well.
B次元官网网址淭he View Royal Firefighters Association has stepped up to help big-time,B次元官网网址� noted Brown, 55, who has served as a volunteer and full-time firefighter for 14 years. He is honoured to be the first firefighter and first View Royal resident to take part in the Tour.
Brewer, is a 13-year RCMP veteran, with 10 spent at the West Shore detachment and most recently with First Nations Policing. A member of the Similkameen Indian Band who grew up in Princeton, said heB次元官网网址檚 fortunate to be able to draw from the experiences of who took part in the Tour de Rock.
B次元官网网址淭hey have all been great mentors,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣o matter what youB次元官网网址檝e heard, everyone says the ride will change you in ways you could never imagine.B次元官网网址�
To donate or find out more about the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock, visit .
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
