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Ladysmith’s Lindy Skutnik named to Tour de Rock team

Lindy Skutnik has been named to the 24 member team that will cycle the length of Vancouver Island.
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Lindy Skutnik, left, with the 20th annual Tour de Rock team at the announcement in Sooke on Friday.

Ladysmith’s Lindy Skutnik has been named to the 24 member Tour de Rock team that will cycle the length of Vancouver Island in September and October, raising money for pediatric cancer research and support programs.

The 20th Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer team was announced at Edward Milne Community School in Sooke on Friday morning in front of an excited crowd of students.

“Communities and schools are the backbone of the Tour de Rock. It’s about kids helping kids. In fact, Vancouver Island is the Tour de Rock.” said Jan Buehler, spokesperson for the Vancouver Island Canadian Cancer Society.

Skutnik, one half of 460 Realty’s Lindy and Elaine Real Estate Team, has helped with the tour in years past and felt it would be a great opportunity to take local fundraising to the next level.

“After training with the team for six weeks I received an email saying I was selected,” she said.

“I have to say I was elated and emotionally moved all at the same time. I knew my selection meant that others weren’t and we’ve all had such a great time with the training.”

Since its inception in 1998, the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock has become Vancouver Island’s number one fundraiser and collected over $22 million to help kids with cancer. Collectively, teams have also travelled over halfway around the world to support children in their battle.

The team from communites across the Island assembled for 2017 also recognizes special guest riders, such as Skutnik, as well as community and corporate leaders, paramedics and firefighters.

And for only the second time in the tour’s history a rider will take part in the two-week trek. Arnold Lim, representing Black Press, rode on the tour four years ago.

“I’m doing this because I’m so passionate about the cause. I had the opportunity to ride Tour de Rock in 2013 and it was an amazing experience,” Lim said.

This team of police officers and guest riders cycle from one end of Vancouver Island starting in Port Alice to Victoria; over 1,100 km every year.

All the funds raised send children facing cancer and their families to our acclaimed Camp Goodtimes and last year 384 campers were welcomed from across British Columbia. One $1,500 donation can help in sending a child to camp.

All members were outfitted with training jerseys and a Trek road bike to help in their training and fundraising over the coming five months.

Brothers Mark Hendred, a member of the Saanich Police and brother Ryan, a paramedic with BC Ambulance Services, also make up part of the team.

Ryan volunteered last year for the Tour as a paramedic and battled childhood leukemia.

“I am honoured to ride. Cancer treatment itself is brutal enough; all of the psychological and social impacts that go with it are something that aren’t as well handled as the ‘medicine’ part of the disease so Camp Goodtimes is incredibly valuable,” he said. “Anything I can do to help so that others don’t have to suffer alone the same way I did is the least I can do.”

In addition to the team being named, the Canadian Cancer Society also announced a special Cops for Cancer BC Fund to collect and annually disburse money raised for Camp Goodtimes and pediatric cancer research.

Locally, the Tour de Rock Colour Fun Run is being held this Sunday May 14 at Transfer Beach Amphitheatre.

All proceeds from this event will go to pediatric cancer services here on Vancouver Island, supporting Camp Goodtimes and pediatric cancer research.

Online registration closes at midnight on May 12 and entries are capped at 600 participants.

Check http://www.tour-de-rock.com/ for more details.

“Here we are with all our gear ready to train hard and fundraise in hopes of making some very deserving kids days a bit brighter,” Skutnik said.

This year’s Tour de Rock team includes:

Sandra Boyd; Vista Radio’s 1240 Coast AM in Port Hardy; Virginia Bessette, Campbell River RCMP; Dirk Finkensiep, Comox Valley RCMP; Marc Yeon, Military Police Unit Comox; Marcel Midlane, Ucluelet RCMP; Beth O’Connor, Port Alberni RCMP; Dave Boyce, Port Alberni RCMP; Samantha Caram, Nanaimo RCMP; Kevin Flood, Nanaimo RCMP; Lindy Skutnik, Ladysmith; Kris Wood, Duncan RCMP; Cole Brewer, West Shore RCMP; Ashley Cockle, Victoria Police; Jill Bonnet, RCMP Island District Headquarters; Jonathon deBoer, Saanich Police; Chelsea Cofield, Saanich Police; Mark Hendren, Saanich Police; Ryan Hendren, B.C. Ambulance Service; Glen Polson, B.C. Ambulance Service; David Brown, View Royal Fire Rescue; Chris Day, CFB Esquimalt Fire Department; Matthew Best, Military Police Unit Esquimalt; Arnold Lim, Black Press and 2013 Alumni Rider; Mike Gonzalez, Old Spaghetti Factory.





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