When Michael HillB次元官网网址檚 mother-in-law called to say someone had abandoned a bicycle in her garden near Mount Douglas Park, he never imagined heB次元官网网址檇 do much with it. But something inspired him to fix up the old clunker and take it for a ride.
B次元官网网址淚 went for a 5K ride and thought, thatB次元官网网址檚 it, IB次元官网网址檓 dying,B次元官网网址� he says, laughing.
But the Victoria native had already signed on to cycle hundreds of kilometres in the annual Ride to Conquer Cancer, inspired by friends and family around him who had been affected by or treated for the devastating disease.
Four years later, Hill and 30 teammates will hop on their bikes once more to cruise the two-day, 200 km ride through the Pacific Northwest to raise money for cancer research.
HillB次元官网网址檚 longtime friend and teammate, Darren Westwood, says they started Team Nova to honour his father, who he lost to lung cancer 10 years ago. The team is slated to raise $85,000 this year, and Westwood says theyB次元官网网址檝e already seen money theyB次元官网网址檝e raised put to work here on the Island at the BC Cancer Agency.
B次元官网网址淲e can also direct which type of cancer the research money goes to,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a local feel to it, and thatB次元官网网址檚 why we wanted to be part of it.B次元官网网址�
Drena Hill, MichaelB次元官网网址檚 wife and team captain, says five members of Team Nova are cancer survivors and some are still in treatment. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing to see when they say first hand, we do make a difference. People think $5 is nothing, but it changes lives.B次元官网网址�
As the trio prepare to travel to the Lower Mainland where the ride kicks off Saturday (Aug. 26) in Cloverdale, theyB次元官网网址檙e excited; 300 new riders will participate in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 ninth year down the course. ItB次元官网网址檚 like a family reunion of 2,100 people, Drena says, some of whom are now lifelong friends.
Teams will spend the night together camping in Mount Vernon, WA and cross the finish line Sunday in Redmond.
B次元官网网址淲hen you get to that finish line you see families, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers,B次元官网网址� Westwood says. B次元官网网址淲e were crying fools the first year we came across that finish line. ItB次元官网网址檚 definitely emotional.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淣obody should fight cancer alone,B次元官网网址� he says, a mantra that has extended to Team NovaB次元官网网址檚 philosophy. The teamB次元官网网址檚 30 riders range in age from 21 to 70 years old, with a range of skill and ability.
B次元官网网址淣obody rides alone,B次元官网网址� Hill says. B次元官网网址淭ogether we do make a difference.B次元官网网址�
