Oct. 1 will be Tour de Rock day in Oak Bay.
Acting mayor Tara Ney made the proclamation in front of hundreds of students, staff and community members – collectively known at Oak Bay High School as OB Nation – on Friday.
Oak Bay students have raised more than $300,000 for the tour since it started in 1998.
OB Nation rocked the the event where the 2015 Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team was announced. The 21-member team will cycle the length of Vancouver Island this fall raising money for children and families to attend Camp Goodtimes as well as for pediatric cancer research and support programs.
The riders entered the new gym at Oak Bay high in black T-shirts to tremendous applause. They left 30 minutes later clad in their training jerseys and pushing their new bikes, to the roar of the crowd.
“The training you’ve got ahead of you, the ride that you have in September – it’s going to be wet, it’s going to be cold, there will be hills that will be really long, there will be down hills that will be really fast. You will get chaffing on your body where you have never been chaffed before,” said teacher Chad Jacques, who has led students in their fundraising efforts. “So we want you to think about us on your way…. think of us when times are tough and please know that Oak Bay Nation rides with you.”
Before team members received their Coast Capital Savings training jerseys and Trek bikes, Ney proclaimed Oct. 1 – the day the riders roll into Oak Bay on their second-last day of the ride – will be Tour de Rock Day in Oak Bay.
“Since 1988 the Tour de Rock has been creating community solidarity with children who have cancer. This proclamation signals Oak Bay’s forever commitment to care for these families in need,” Ney said. “We challenge all communities on Vancouver Island to join us in this forever commitment.”
The Tour de Rock team will spend the next five months training and fundraising, before setting out on Sept. 19 for the 1,100-km ride starting in Port Alice and ending in Victoria on Oct. 2.
