On December 19, 2012, Richard Bone heard a sentence most people hope to never encounter B次元官网网址� words he would go onto hear seven more times in his life.

B次元官网网址淵ou have cancer.B次元官网网址�

In 2013, doctors discovered four inoperable lymph node tumours in BoneB次元官网网址檚 heart. The Ponoka man was told there was a five per cent chance of making it past one year.

Ten years later, heB次元官网网址檚 still fighting B次元官网网址� living his life by the mantra: B次元官网网址業 may have cancer, but cancer doesnB次元官网网址檛 have me.B次元官网网址�

Bone grew up in the 1970s, and like many adults today spent much of his childhood outside, biking around during the day with expectations to return home by the time the streetlights came on.

B次元官网网址淚f you wanted to get around, you hopped on your bike and got around,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚 never had a video game. The first Atari? My dad said B次元官网网址榥o, not on my television,B次元官网网址� so it was outside. Go fishing, go to the beach, get out.B次元官网网址�

Today, heB次元官网网址檚 using his love for cycling towards both a personal and global cause, taking part in the Great Cycling Challenge.

He first set to participate in 2021, but was unable to finish his goal due to health reasons. HeB次元官网网址檚 participated yearly since, but has yet to fully complete his set goals.

This year, he told Black Press Media in a phone interview heB次元官网网址檚 just going to go for it. So far heB次元官网网址檚 raised $3,189 out of his $5,000 goal, all donations earmarked for SickKids, organization that focuses on healthcare for children in Canada.

The challenge works by registering online and then tracking kilometers with an app. Distance can be clocked either on a stationary bike or out on the road all throughout the month of August. Ride goals are completely up to the participant, and they do not have to be hit in one single ride. All kilometers will count as long as theyB次元官网网址檙e logged between Aug. 1 to 30.

Bone is planning to cycle from Canmore to Vancouver, or roughly 1,500 kilometres. His final destination is the Terry Fox memorial at BC Place, and he expects to take approximately three weeks to arrive.

Though most may not associate an almost annual tradition of cancer diagnoses with motivation, Bone has been doing his best to live his life as much as he can. One of his biggest motivators is his granddaughter.

B次元官网网址淥ne of the things that got to me was that I didnB次元官网网址檛 have any granddkids, I was only 42. In 2016, our granddaughter was born. So then it became B次元官网网址業 have to see her first birthdayB次元官网网址�, and that it became B次元官网网址業 have to be there for her first day of schoolB次元官网网址�, and it just goes on,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淢y little bug, I call her. She came home from the hospital in a little ladybug onesie. SheB次元官网网址檚 a big reason to keep going, to see her next stage of life.B次元官网网址�

His wife has also been a source of motivation and support, and he said he wants to stick around to make sure she can enjoy some of her retirement, and share some of that time with her.

BoneB次元官网网址檚 advice to anyone who may be starting out in the position he was in back in 2012 is to try and stay positive as much as possible, and to remember to take care.

B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 focus on the negative, look forward to tomorrow. Take naps when you need to nap, and donB次元官网网址檛 be afraid to ask for help,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淕o live your life. YouB次元官网网址檙e not dead until youB次元官网网址檙e dead.B次元官网网址�