Twenty six riders in the Cops for Cancer Tour de North made it into Williams Lake on Thursday to conclude their 807-kilometre journey from Fort Saint John.
Among those riders were safer communities co-ordinator Dave Dickson, Cpl. Michael Hacker, Cpl. Brian Evans, and Const. Ken Davies from the Williams Lake RCMP detachment.
A community celebration was held at Boitanio Park, where the riders were greeted by friends and supporters, including 15-year-old Nicholas Paul, who is battling leukemia.
At the event, Davies said he was honoured to be part of the ride and acknowledged his fellow riders.
“They’re all a very, very, inspiring group,” Davies said. “Riding in honour of Nicholas has been nothing less than an honour for us.”
Dickson, who raised $11,000, said the ride was an amazing experience.
“Each day we just seemed to get stronger and stronger,” Dickson told the Tribune. “There was laughter, all kinds of fun, and we were singing at one part. We just had a lot of fun. It was not about us. It was for the children who are fighting cancer.”
Dickson said he has no plans to take a break from riding his bicycle. In fact, in early October, he will be part of a 200-plus-kilometre ride in Vernon to raise funds for the Well Spring Foundation for Education program in Rwanda.
“I need to keep up my training, and I’ve worked hard all summer and I just don’t want to become a couch potato.”
After the community event at Boitanio Park, a gala barbecue was held at Thompson Rivers University to raise more funds for Cops for Cancer. Those still wishing to make a donation can do so until the end of November. Visit www.copsforcancer.ca.