Cycling: Sears National Kids Cancer Ride - Pre-Ride

Friday, June 06, 2008 - 07:16 PM

I arrived in Vancouver on May 30th, 2008 where I met up with 47 other National Riders and 40 National Volunteers. With each flight that arrived over the four day period between May 29th and June 1, it was clear that this is to be a great adventure. National Riders and Volunteers were arriving from all across Canada, some English-speaking and some French-speaking — ranging from 17 to sixty years of young, 40% women, and 60% men.

Each of us are coming to this adventure for our own personal reasons — and then of course the biggest reason — to support and raise awareness for children with cancer. Each of us are bringing our own friends and family members who we will ride for.

I took up cycling with my son, David, a university student, two years ago. We both participated in the Tour For Kids cycling event, organized by this same foundation — Coast to Coast Against Cancer. Cycling is contagious and good people seem to gravitate to the sport. But what is most poignant about this fundraising event, is the passsion and commitment of the organizers and cyclists and volunteers who participate.

As we have our first meal in Vancouver together, it is obvious to me that friendships for life will be borne from this adventure, and hopefully lives — young lives, will benefit from more research, better drugs, and that researchers and physicians will advance in medical knowledge through collaboration with each other for the greater good of these courageous children and their families.

To my friends, family, patients and supporters, I thank you for your support. I would not be here without your belief in me.

We are 72 hours away from embarking on the inaugural, Sears National Kids Cancer Ride — the longest and most ambitious fundraising cycling event in the world for childhood cancer. I feel privileged to be a National Rider among this group of Canadians.

Al Jeffries
National Rider