BԪַ

Skip to content

Island ride raises funds for soldiersBԪַ good works

Boomer's Bike Ride honours Canadian forces medic from Comox who was killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 11, 2006.
6373goldstreamBoomer2PJun1512
CFB Esquimalt warrant officer Dan Flynn dons his Boomerâ??s Legacy jersey

While the grind may be exhausting for the cyclists tackling BoomerBԪַs Bike Ride, those involved say it is more than worth it.

The event, starting today from Comox, is held every year in the memory of Cpl. Andrew BԪַBoomerBԪַ Eykelenboom, a Canadian forces medic from Comox who was killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 11, 2006.

The ride passes through the West Shore and ends in Victoria, Saturday.

Following EykelenboomBԪַs death, his mother established BoomerBԪַs Legacy, a foundation that raises money to help soldiers provide humanitarian work in conflict zones.

Rides are now held in four locations: Vancouver Island, Ottawa, Halifax and Edmonton. Riders place a photo of a fallen soldier on their bikes to commemorate those who have lost their lives while serving.

Money from the fund goes to soldiers, facilitated by the military, for on the ground humanitarian work BԪַ providing clothes to children, helping with rebuilding or supplying shelters or orphanages are a few examples.

Dan Flynn, a warrant officer posted to CFB Esquimalt, is doing the ride for the third time.

After two tours of duty in Afghanistan and one in Kosovo, the Langford resident said he has seen first hand how money raised by BoomerBԪַs Legacy has helped.

In Kosovo, Flynn helped a women and childrenBԪַs shelter with $10,000 from BoomerBԪַs Legacy that paid for improvements allowing the shelter to care for 10 more children than they could before.

Money was also used to help a mother with six children who lost her husband and extended family and was living in destitution.

BԪַItBԪַs the hardest thing for a soldier to come to terms with, because youBԪַre there to help,BԪַ Flynn said. BԪַWe believe in the mission itself, but we also have a human element where we want to help people.BԪַ

TodayBԪַs ride begins in Comox with a trip to EykelenboomBԪַs gravesite. From there participants cycle to Nanaimo, where theyBԪַll spend the night, before continuing to the grounds of the legislature tomorrow.

The 200-plus kilometre ride is a challenging one, especially the Malahat portion, Flynn said.

However, seeing BoomerBԪַs mother, Maureen, riding along with the other cyclists makes the effort seem easy.

BԪַYou canBԪַt whine or complain because thereBԪַs Maureen, lost her son and there she is riding and organizing,BԪַ Flynn said. BԪַItBԪַs inspiring.BԪַ

To pledge a rider visit boomerslegacy.ca.

news@goldstreamgazette.com





(or

BԪַ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }