Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast riders begin 700-kilometre journey

Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast cyclists began their 700-kilometre journey on Sept. 11, with stops in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge planned in the coming days. The eight-day ride includes 41 law-enforcement and emergency-services personnel raising funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.

The riders are scheduled to arrive at the Pitt Meadows RCMP detachment at 3:50 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14. They will return to the area at 9:10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Maple Ridge RCMP detachment, before continuing to visit elementary schools.

After months of training and fundraising, participants will connect with schools, businesses and communities across Greater Vancouver in support of families affected by childhood cancer. The local participants are Const. Jordan Shields of Maple Ridge RCMP and Cpl. Shawn Blakeway of Pitt Meadows.

Now in its 27th year, Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast supports childhood cancer research and Camp Goodtimes, a medically supervised camp where children and families can connect, build confidence and create lasting memories. Nichole Doucette, whose family attended after her son Ty was diagnosed with leukemia, said the camp was an important support for their family.

Nearly 1,000 children in Canada are diagnosed with cancer each year, and cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death among children under 15. Although survival rates have improved, two-thirds of children diagnosed with cancer experience long-term or late effects from treatment.

The Cancer Society says it has invested more than $11 million in childhood cancer research over the past five years and also provides information and support to affected children and families. More information and donation options are available at copsforcancer.ca.

B.C. has four cycling tours. Since the first tour in 1997, Cops for Cancer has expanded across Canada, with hundreds of law-enforcement and emergency-services participants raising $58 million through its events.