They’ve logged the training miles, visited Camp Goodtimes and have been fundraising for months, and now the Tour de Rock team has hit the road with sights on the Comox Valley this Wednesday.
The 15th annual Canadian Cancer Society Cops For Cancer Tour de Rock began Sunday as the team of riders made its way down Vancouver Island from Port Alice, with stops in communities along the way.
The 2013 team consists of police officers (military and civilian) and media riders who, for two weeks, ride 1,000 km from the north end of the Island to the south, raising money to fight childhood cancer.
Since its inception, the Tour has raised nearly $18 million to fund pediatric cancer research and programs which help children with cancer and their families.
The Comox Valley’s (and North Island’s) only rider Jennifer Faerber explained she knows firsthand the effect cancer can have on a family.
Faerber, who came to Canada from Australia three years ago to continue her radio career, battled non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and attended a camp similar to Camp Goodtimes in Australia.
“I wanted to tell people various aspects of what it’s like when you are that kid with cancer,” she noted as her motivation for undertaking the gruelling ride, which will see the team pass through 27 Island communities, and attend fundraising events at schools and businesses.
Faerber noted how grateful she is to have gone to a camp during her treatment, and wants to be able to help kids who are currently battling cancer.
“When we visited Camp Goodtimes, the kids cheer so loudly for you. I actually felt really comfortable there; I was one of those kids,” Faerber said.
“Most people on the team have their own connection to cancer,” she added.
On Wednesday when the team rolls into the Valley, they will visit a variety of schools including G.P. Vanier, École Robb Road and Valley View. The day culminates with a Black/White/Bright Tapas Night at the Old House in Courtenay in the evening.
Tickets for the fundraiser are $50 each and includes entertainment, a silent auction, live auction and raffles; tickets are available at the Comox Valley RCMP.
On Thursday morning before the team departs south for Royston and Union Bay, they will begin the day at Thrifty Foods at 7:20 a.m. on England Avenue for a community breakfast (not the Crown Isle location as previously scheduled).
Everyone is invite to participate and meet the team, have breakfast and make a donation.
For full coverage on the Tour de Rock in the Comox Valley, visit www.comoxvalleyrecord.com or the Record’s Facebook page for video and photos of the events.
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It’s a full day of fundraising and cheering as Tour de Rock team members stop by the Comox Valley on Wednesday, and Thursday morning.
The following times for scheduled events are approximate:
Wednesday, Sept. 25
11:19 – 11:29 a.m. Comox Valley Dodge
11:34 – 11:44 a.m. G.P. Vanier High School
11:56 – 12:06 p.m. Valley View School
12:10 – 12:20 p.m. Aspen Co-Op
12:23 – 12:33 p.m. Ecole Aspen School
12:39 – 12:49 p.m. Ecole Robb Road
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5:47 – 7:37 p.m. Community event at Cumberland Jr. School
8:02 – 9:32 p.m. Fundraising event at Old House Village
Thursday, Sept. 26
7:20 – 8:40 a.m. Community breakfast at Thrifty Foods on England
9:10 – 9:15 a.m. Cumberland Jr. and Elementary School
9:33 – 9:48 a.m. Royston Primary
10:08 – 10:18 a.m. Union Bay Community Hall
photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com
