Ask me why I ride (to conquer cancer)

The BC Ride to Conquer Cancer is a two day, 260 kilometre bicycle ride starting from Vancouver and ending in Seattle.On Saturday, June 16,approximately 3000 riders will head out on the first leg of the ride, camp overnight and then cross the finish lineon June 17in Seattle. This is the fourth Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer here in BC.From 2009 to 2011, it has raised a total of 27.2 million dollars for the BC Cancer Foundation. This ride occurs yearly in cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Alberta and Vancouver and has to date generated 131.2 million dollars. While most people are still in bed asleep, these dedicated cyclists get up before the crack of dawn, rain or shine and start their journey. This ride is meant to be challenging because cancer is challenging.

This year, three valiant riders from Bowen island will be participating in the event: Rick Stringfellow (fourth time riding with team Riders for Ryders), Qurban Singh Khalsa (third time riding with team Riders for Ryders) and Jeff Matheson (first timer, riding with his company team Tetra Tech). Training as often as the weather will permit, these three riders have dedicated the next few months to training and fundraising. Each rider is required to raise $2500 in order to be able to participate.The BC Cancer Foundation receives 100 per cent of all donations generated from the ride. After finalizing their budget, the Foundation invests in research, care and education programs at the BC Cancer Agency. The Foundation also pays for the cost of the event. According to the BC Cancer Foundation, 70 per cent of the funds raised by the 2011 Conquer Cancer Ride were invested directly into research and enhancements to care at the BC Cancer Agency (financial summaries can be found atwww.partnersindiscovery.ca). The Conquer Cancer organizers are proud of this investment, which is well above industry standards for events of this size and scope.

Riders can either ride as individuals or join/create a team and ride as a group. Team Riders for Ryders is the largest team in the BC chapter of the Conquer Cancer ride, comprising of 201 members (192 riders, nine of which are cancer survivors and nine crew members) and is the second largest team in Canada.To date, this team has raised an impressive $ 201,857.32.

Riders for Ryder was started by Jimi Brockette who lost his son Ryder to cancer when he was only six years old. In 2010, the name changed to Riders for Ryders (plural) to honor Bowen Island resident Qurban Singh Khalsa's son Ryder who also succumbed to the disease. "Why do I ride? Because cancer took my son's life at 20 months old. I ride to honour his happy smiling spirit. I ride so that the money we raise will save lives. I believe we can make cancer a memory. As my friend Jimi says 'We can and we will.'", says Khalsa.

In 2009, Stringfellow crossed the finish line, successfully completing the first BC Conquer Cancer ride and has done so every year since. He rides because, "cancer sucks and I want it to go away! It has no redeeming qualities, there's just nothing good about it, and we have to rid it from our world. I've seen what it can do to friends and family and Dad, it doesn't play a fair fight. When I ride, I feel we can beat it, and it won't catch me". Its impressive to seeresearchers and hospital staff riding as well, says Stringfellow, "they get up on stage and thank us for riding."

Matheson, the newest member of the Conquer Cancer family says he rides because, "like most people, I have family and friends that have struggled with cancer. I want to help give those who are currently living with cancer and help give my children's generation a better chance of surviving this disease."

The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 40 per cent of Canadian women and 45 per cent of men will develop cancer during their lifetimes. An estimated one out of four Canadians is expected to die from cancer (http://www.cancer.ca).

If people wish to donate they may do so on-line, simply go to the 2012 Conquer Cancer website(http://www.conquercancer.ca)and search for a riders name. Khalsa will be conducting a "raffle and ride" here on Bowen in May to help with his ride (dates and time to be determined).

The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer is still accepting volunteers and crew members, interested parties can email the volunteer coordinator Jaime McCuaig [email protected] details.

Congratulations to our local riders for taking on this battle to fight cancer.