Cops for Cancer Tour de North kicks off another year

“Cancer’s affected everybody. I lost a good friend to cancer, so that’s what inspired me,” said RCMP officer Allison Fenske, who is one of 21 riders taking part in Tour de North.

“My best friend’s nephew was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, and he actually passed away when he was 16,” said community rider Katie Cunningham on why she’s joining the ride.

The well known idea of everyone knowing someone with cancer seems to unfortunately become more true with each passing day, as just about everyone knows somebody who has been impacted by cancer.

“The numbers (motivate me). 28 kids a year die of cancer, and nobody wants that,” Fenske said, when speaking more on her motivation to ride.

Most thoughts regarding fundraising for the fight against cancer usually revolve around funding research and care, and while that is undoubtedly important, organizers say being able to provide summer camp experiences for children with cancer is incredibly valuable too.

“It allows the kids to be kids again. So much of their life is in and out of hospitals, not being able to go into their school on a regular basis, so it allows them not only kids to be kids again, but it allows that family unit to come back together as well,” said Cops for Cancer Tour Manager Laura Nelson.

“They can foster some independence that they wouldn’t be able to have otherwise. Like I said, they’re in and out of hospitals all the time. (They can) just have fun, relax, it’s medically supervised, so parents don’t have to worry about that, as well as the kids,” Nelson continued.

Nelson added 78% of Camp Good Times funding came from Cops for Cancer, and Tour de North’s focus is all about the children, so the riders say it’s fantastic to see how much of their effort can go into helping provide camp experiences. The thought of the children, and also the energy they provide at events like the kickoff event at Quinson Elementary School, keep the riders going even through the tough times.

“On those hard days when we’ve been riding for like 120 km and you’re feeling broken and then you wheel into a school and there’s so much energy and they’re so excited. It just gives you that boost you need to finish,” Fenske said.

If you would like to learn more, or donate, you can visit Cops for Cancer’s website here.

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by Tommy Osborne

Cops for Cancer Tour de North kicks off another year

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