Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast arrives in Pitt Meadows

The Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast arrived at the parking lot of the new Pitt Meadows RCMP detachment on Monday, Sept. 14. The annual Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser brings police officers and emergency-services personnel on an eight-day cycling route along the B.C. coast to support pediatric cancer research and care programs, including Camp Goodtimes.

Cpl. Shawn Blakeway, the first rider from the new independent Pitt Meadows RCMP detachment, was welcomed by his wife, Maple Ridge educator Kristi Blakeway, and his parents, Debbie and Sandy Blakeway. He thanked officer in charge Staff Sgt. Michelle Luca for the opportunity to ride and thanked his colleagues for their support. The riders had started the morning in Powell River.

Blakeway said the event has operated for 29 years and raised about $61 million. He also recognized local cancer survivor Linden, who has just started high school and donated $1,000. Brad Potter of the B.C. Highway Patrol, another RCMP officer who lives in Pitt Meadows, thanked the Pitt Meadows Lions Club for pledging proceeds from all of its September meat-draw fundraisers at the Jolly Coachman pub, an estimated $1,000 donation, and presented the club with a plaque.

The Tour de Valley has a $650,000 fundraising goal and had raised $458,000, or 70 per cent, by Tuesday morning. Donations can be made at support.cancer.ca. The tour returns to Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows on Wednesday, Sept. 16, stopping at Maple Ridge RCMP detachment at 9:13 a.m.; Kanaka Creek Elementary at 9:30 a.m.; Meadowridge School at 9:53 a.m.; Edith McDermott Elementary at 10:38 a.m.; and Pitt Meadows Elementary at 10:53 a.m. Riders will have lunch and additional stops in Burnaby, with closing ceremonies scheduled for Friday at the Cancer Society office in Vancouver.