Ladysmith residents welcomed the Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock riders with open arms and their heads bared, literally.
Tour de Rock's 21 riders, with their bikes at their sides, strolled into the Ladysmith and District Credit Union shortly after 2 p.m. yesterday flanked by an Honour Guard consisting of RCMP officers and Ladysmith Fire/Rescue members.
Following a brief address by Tour rider and Ladysmith resident Const. Misty Dmytar, the TDR crew looked on as heads were shaved, fundraising totals were announced and the Wall of Heroes — a mural painted by artist Kelly Everill commemorating cancer combatants — was unveiled.
A number of local women had their locks lopped off as a donation for wig makers. Ladysmith councillor Duck Paterson and 11-year-old Ladysmith Intermediate School student Corey Cross then had their heads shaved as part of a sponsored fundraising effort.
Cross's efforts raised "just over $4,000," a sum later matched by Ladysmith-based Coastal Trucking.
The Tour returned to Highway 1 shortly after 3 p.m. to ride out to Chemainus before returning to Ladysmith last night for the Red Serge Dinner.
Kim Judson, chair of the Ladysmith Tour de Rock committee, said this year's fundraising efforts brought in an estimated $38,000 in Ladysmith alone, eclipsing last year's sum of approximately $20,000.
View a slideshow of our Tour de Rock photos by visiting our Flickr page.