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Ladysmith gears up for Tour de Rock

The annual Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock will arrive on Monday, Oct. 3.
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Members of the 2016 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team leave Nanaimo on a mock ride last month in preparation for the full event which launches this month. The team will be in Ladysmith on Oct. 3.

Rick StiebelThe Chronicle

The annual Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock will arrive on Monday, Oct. 3, in keeping with Ladysmith’s strong tradition of supporting an event that raises money to assist children dealing with cancer.

Ladysmith Coun. Duck Paterson, who has been involved with the Tour de Rock for many years, said volunteers are working hard to raise the level of support to what once made Ladysmith one of the most talked about stops on the Tour.

“When we first started we had some huge supporters and organizers for events,” Paterson said. “People passed away and moved away and support waned for a few years, but now we have a new enthusiastic group working to get it back to what it used to be.”

That can be a difficult task considering the increasing number of fundraisers communities are asked to support every year, so setting up fundraisers that engage families and get people involved is key, Paterson explained.

“We want to make it a fun family event that adds something to the experience for those who come out,” he added.

“What people do volunteering and fundraising is a very small part of the big picture,” he said. It’s all about the kids who have cancer and the riders. They give up their summer and spend a huge amount of time training for two weeks that are a real grind.”

The Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock riders will  begin their trek in Port Alice on Sept. 24 and cover about 1,000 kilometres on Vancouver island on their bikes before arriving in Victoria on Oct. 7.

The first ride in 1998 included 16 police officers from throughout the Victoria area and raised $325,000. The Tour de Rock has since raised that total to more than $21 million, which funds pediatric cancer research and enables children and their families to attend Camp Goodtimes.

 

FUNDRAISING EVENTS

All of the riders and support staff will be on hand for the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock Ladysmith Red Serge Dinner on Mon. Oct. 3, with doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the Eagles Hall at 921 1st Ave. Tickets are $25 per person, and include a roast beef dinner, wine wall and items for raffles, with all proceeds going to the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock. Tickets are available at the Ladysmith & District Credit Union or the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce. Email duckwon@shaw.ca. or call Duck or Tracy at 250-245-2263 for tickets or more information. To donate a raffle item, contact Lynn Halkett at ladhalkett@hotmail.com or Laura Giles at laurahartgiles@hotmail.com. You can also drop off raffle items at the Chronicle at 940 Oyster Bay Dr.

The Fox and Hound Pub will donate $1.50 from every Rock Burger served at dinner or lunch to the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock until Oct. 3.

The Ladysmith Tim Hortons is doing its annual Smile Cookie fundraiser, which runs throughout the tour. One dollar from each cookie goes to the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock.

 

 





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