This year’s edition of the Cops for Cancer Tour de North is officially underway.
Today, (Thursday) officers throughout the North gathered at the North District RCMP detachment in Prince George for an event to kick off the Tour.
“The team, Tour de North, will be riding over 800 kilometres in September during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month,” said Ninon Daubigeon, Senior Manager of Cops for Cancer at the Canadian Cancer Society.
“All the funds raised will go to the Canadian Cancer Society to support childhood cancer research and for Camp Good Times.”
This year, the team consists of 13 law enforcement, first responders and guest riders from all over Northern BC.
They will be riding from Prince George to Prince Rupert over seven days.
“I’m doing the ride for my daughter Melody,” said Leighton Johnston, Correctional Service of Canada.
“She’s fine but when she was younger, she had some health concerns and it was very stressful and I’ve always wanted to do something to help out.”
This is the first ride for Johnston, and he’s training by commuting by bike daily.
“If you live in Prince George and you don’t live in the downtown, everything’s a hill, so you get to do hills every day” he explained.
“On the weekends you’ll do the longer rides, slowly work up to the big long rides.”
“I do have friends and family members who’ve had cancer in the past,” said Sabrina Maaske of the Prince George RCMP.
“This is a tour I’ve seen for many years, and it’s something I’ve wanted to be a part of for many years, and this year I’m fortunate to be a part of it.”
She said she’s been working hard at training and the hills are getting easier.
“Everybody’s affected in some way or another, personally I’m not,” said Scott Roberts of the North District RCMP.
“I’m just hoping to step up and do my part, I’ve never done anything like it, as far as distance and everything, but lots of training, we have all summer.”
This year, the goal is to raise $250,000 for childhood cancer research and Camp Good Times.
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