First responders on a seven-day cycling journey to fundraise for the Canadian Cancer Society arrived in Terrace yesterday before they set out on the final stretch of Highway 16 to Prince Rupert, earlier this morning (Sept. 23).
The 16 RCMP officers who were in Terrace, began their journey from Prince George a week ago and have been greeted by community members along every stop, said Chetwynd detachment commander, Sgt. Wahnese Antonioni-Stevens who is riding for the first time this year.
Antonioni-Stevens, who served in the Kitimat detachment previously, said that each of them were riding for someone they know has fought, or is fighting the disease.
She said it was inspiring to see the officers’ commitment to the cause despite the weather, heavy rains and even when their legs got sore.
An annual event, Cops-For-Cancer has been fundraising for the cause for almost two decades with this tour being its 20th edition. This year the group was aiming to raise $100,000 and according to Antonioni-Stevens, they have already raised more than that. She called the support from communities “overwhelming.”
Another officer in the group from Williams Lake, Kevin Wiebe, who grew up in Terrace and was a newspaper carrier for the Terrace Standard as a young boy, said he was excited to be back in his hometown.
Wiebe was riding in honour of his sister-in-law, Leah Wiebe who died in 2017 after a long battle with Leukemia.
READ MORE: Leah Wiebe passes away after hard-fought battle against leukemia
In Terrace, a dinner reception was held for the group by MacCarthy GM and AMECO at the Thornhill Pub on Wednesday evening.
The tour will end this afternoon in Prince Rupert.
