The Tour de Cure made a triumphant return in Chilliwack yesterday (August 27th), and the Wheelin’ Warriors of the North were right in the middle of it.
33 riders from northern BC rode at the event, raising nearly $130,000 for the BC Cancer Foundation. All of these riders raised at least $2500 in order to be able to participate. 2 others were unable to make the trip down and rode from Prince George. Both of these riders received their golden helmets for 5 years of fundraising.
Lyle Dickieson was the team’s top fundraiser, bringing in $17,281 on his own, so far.
All of the money raised by the Wheelin’ Warriors will stay in the north.
“It turned out really really well. There was 3,300 riders in participation” said Ron Gallo, a Co-Captain of the Wheelin’ Warriors.
Most of the riders were from across BC, but Gallo said there were a few from as far as Europe raising money at the event.
“The total raised, announced at the opening ceremonies, was 6.3 million dollars” Gallo said.
There were three distances that riders could choose from: 50km, 100km, and 160km.
Gallo and two other Wheelin’ Warriors, Dr. Mohau Kolisang and Sylvia Masich rode the full 160km, a ride that spanned most of the day.
“You get to about 133 kilometers into the ride, and then you have got a 6 kilometer hill that is a little steeper than university hill, and obviously three times as long.”
He said that was challenging, even by his standards.
The Wheelin’ Warriors have been raising money for over a decade in Prince George, in that time they have raised almost $1.5 million dollars for cancer treatment and research.
“On behalf of family, friends, and local businesses in Prince George, everybody on the Wheelin’ Warriors of the North team would like to thank the city of Prince George for the continued support of this team and this opportunity to be able to ride, and do something for research and treatment of cancer here at the BC Cancer Centre for the North.”
The Wheelin’ Warriors donation page is still open, you can find it here.
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