Neither Tamara Ferguson nor Rory Stevens are cyclists. Yet this June they will be riding from Vancouver to Seattle to raise money for the B.C. Cancer Foundation.
Ferguson and Stevens, both from Maple Ridge, will be taking part in the Enbridge Ride To Conquer Cancer, a two-day cycling event that takes place June 16 and 17.
On Saturday, they held their first major fundraising event, a spin-a-thon outside of the Great Canadian Superstore in Pitt Meadows.
For eight hours the duo traded off a spin machine in front of the store, riding a total of 180 kilometers and raising $652.29 for their team.
Ferguson and Stevens are hoping to raise a combined goal of $5,000 before the June deadline.
To date they have raised $1,337.68.
Stevens is dedicating the ride to his grandfather, John Harrison Campbell, who died in 1997 after a two-year battle with Leukemia and, finally, lung cancer.
Ferguson is riding in memory of her grandmother, Ardie Joy Ferguson, who lost her battle with Stage 4 lung cancer in 2011.
“It’s hard, but, actually, I think doing this ride is kind of my way of overcoming that. I feel that I am able to help her in the same way she kind of helped me,” says Ferguson.
“It is helping me deal with the pain of having somebody that’s important to you pass on,” she says.
“And especially, having everybody come up and tell you their stories when they are donating money to the cause about their family members and friends, I think really gives the sense of community and hope and support.”
• To help Ferguson and Stevens reach their goal go to conquercancer.ca, click on donate and look for team Mediocre. Future fundraising events will also be listed here.