The buzz in the gym at SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Tillicum elementary Friday morning started with the introduction of Ryder the Raccoon and grew louder as newly announced riders on the Cops for Cancer 2022 Tour de Rock team walked in.

But a roar went up when guest rider, none other than Tillicum principal Jeff Duyndam, was introduced.

B次元官网网址淎ll of this really gets me fired up, does it get you fired up?B次元官网网址� he later asked the students and staff assembled for the event, to which they responded with another roar.

B次元官网网址淲e are going to take that passion inside us and do something really special, weB次元官网网址檙e going to take that to help other people,B次元官网网址� he said. Another roar.

ItB次元官网网址檚 moments like this, happening up and down Vancouver Island, that have been missed in the three years since the last full Tour de Rock ride was held to raise funds for pediatric cancer research and family supports.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 absolutely thrilled to be part of this team, and to have (the kickoff event) happen at my own school in the Greater Victoria School District is absolutely spectacular,B次元官网网址� Duyndam told Black Press Media after the boisterous rally wound up.

The tour, an iconic Island staple that draws riders mainly from the law enforcement and emergency services communities, but also from the greater community and media, was cancelled in 2020 and 2021, with alumni riders picking up the fundraising slack.

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If the energy generated by FridayB次元官网网址檚 event was any indication, the Canadian Cancer Society will be pulling out all the stops for the 25th anniversary tour this fall and the lead-up to it.

Saanich police Const. Aaron Grewal, one of multiple members from the department announced Friday, is B次元官网网址渟uper excitedB次元官网网址� to be part of the team, having seen his goal of riding quashed in 2020 by the pandemic. He continued cycling since and has amped up his training in recent months.

B次元官网网址淲earing the jersey today just makes it so much more real,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he jersey and the bike are kind of the tools that get us in the door and get the word out there, we get to raise money for research and planning and also for Camp Goodtimes, where the kids get to go be kids.B次元官网网址�

Thirteen-year-old Lily Lecinana of Sooke, a childhood cancer survivor and former junior rider, handed out the jerseys to riders. She encouraged the public to keep the riders and the beneficiaries of their efforts in mind as they return to the roads for training and the tour itself, running Sept. 24 to Oct. 7 between Port Alice and Victoria.

B次元官网网址淭oday is a very, very special day. It is the 25th anniversary of Tour De Rock, which is awesome and I just canB次元官网网址檛 believe it. This is an amazing day, I almost want to cry, itB次元官网网址檚 so great,B次元官网网址� she said. She hopes to get to Camp Goodtimes this summer, having missed her chance last year due to COVID.

Other team members, starting from the north, are Kyle Dornan, Port Hardy RCMP; Bonnie Logan, Campbell River Fire Department; Steve Scott, Courtenay Volunteer Fire Rescue; Josh Wilson, CFB Comox; Terry Crawford, Nanaimo RCMP; Rachelle Cole, B.C. Emergency Health Services; Rick Geddes, District of Ucluelet Fire; Kenn Mount, Central Saanich Fire Department; Josh Peterson, CFB Esquimalt; Karen Robinson, Pat Bryant, Lindsay Blackett, Trent Edwards, Saanich Police Department; Chris Van Swieten, Tristan Williams, VicPD. Guest riders include the North IslandB次元官网网址檚 Robin Campbell, City of ParksvilleB次元官网网址檚 Adam Fras; B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police representative Tiffany Parton and media rider Anna McMillan from CTV Vancouver Island.

To past and future supporters of the tour, Duyndam said, B次元官网网址淭hank you for all you do B次元官网网址� Helping others is something that is an absolutely spectacular thing that we need to do more of.B次元官网网址�

To follow the riders, donate or learn more about the programs, visit .

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