For many people, a drive on the Coquihalla can be somewhat intimidating: vehicles travelling at high speed on high mountain roads, always with the potential for a last-minute snow storm.
Rick Plovie is familiar with the risks, but he’s taking it one step further by taking the highway on his bicycle as a member of the 2012 Ride2Survive fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.
The father of two came up with the idea during a family meeting.
“Every year, our family gets together to decide what we are going to do to be connected to the community and this year we said let’s step it up a bit,” said Plovie, 49. “This seemed like the right choice because of cancer we’ve had in our family and I’ve lost two co-workers this year.”
The eighth annual Ride2Survive takes place June 23 and involves 400 km from Kelowna to Vancouver, with 12,000 feet of climbing — all in one day.
“I’m always up for a big challenge, but before I commit to something I need to think it through because I always give it 110 per cent,” said Plovie, who generally racks up 7,000 km per year on his bike.
It was on a visit to B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver that gave Plovie the determination to take part in the fundraiser.
“When you see children with life-threatening illnesses, you walk out a changed person,” said Plovie. “So I thought if I could marry my love of cycling with my dedication to the community, then this would be a perfect fit.”
The Ride2Survive is a non-profit society that operates this one-day cycling event from Kelowna to Delta to raise funds for cancer research as an independent fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society, with the vision that everyone is inspired to do something that makes a positive difference in their world.
The organization is run by volunteers, and 100 per cent of the funds raised goes to research because all administration and operational costs are covered by rider registration and/or donated goods and services. None of the funds raised are used to run the event.
While each rider is required to raise $2,500 for the Canadian Cancer Society, Plovie has reached his goal and while donations are more than welcome, he is also looking to spread awareness and to connect with his community.
“This is a journey to make a difference and give a hand-up to people who really need it,” he said. “It’s about community connection.
“We cannot support all the wonderful charities out there, so I made the choice to focus all my efforts into one because this cause fights against something that has affected my family, friends and co-workers: all the people who bring joy and meaning to my life.”
On its web site, Ride2Survive emphasizes enjoyment along with raising funds for a good cause: riding for health and happiness, laughing, caring, inspiring and connecting, some of the many reasons Plovie has such a love for cycling.
“There are so many different facets to cycling. I was a mountain biker for a lot of years and commuted to work for 30 years, but I got into road riding a few years ago and it’s a way of life.”
Plovie said the upcoming ride is extremely well-organized, but that doesn’t mean the Coquihalla won’t be throwing the unexpected at riders.
“It will try and make me believe that I cannot do this, but I draw strength from the support of family and friends and I do this for all the people whose eyes I have looked into as they struggled with cancer.”
Over the years, participants have been faced with snow and headwinds, so his training has been multi-faceted, from a day spent riding on rolling hills, to another on distance. Plovie, who works in mine maintenance at Teck/Highland Valley Copper in Logan Lake, works 12-hour days but still fits in training when his work day ends, and finds the higher altitude has helped to prepare him for next month’s challenge.
“You have to change your mindset when it comes to training — we average 30 to 32 km per hour on the ride, so I’ll spend four to six hours a day training as often as I can.
“Physically you have to be in shape, but mental fitness is equally important — you can be Lance Armstrong, but if you are not mentally prepared, you can’t do it.”
When Plovie joins his team of about 80 riders at 3:30 a.m. on the day of the ride, he will be supported by police and ambulance escorts and a full roster of volunteers to provide everything from food, water and first aid treatment, to encouragement.
“Safety is a big thing — we start together and we finish together.”
And at 9:30 p.m. when the ride is expected to finish, Plovie looks forward to the finish line cheers from his wife and kids.
“This is not the type of thing you do by yourself. My family has had to sacrifice a lot of time with me so I could fit in my training, but my kids really encouraged me and they are all behind me 110 per cent.”
For more information on the event, see www.ride2survive.ca. To make a donation towards Plovie’s fundraising, go to the web site, click on donate now and scroll to his name on the team list.
