Local cyclists with a Ride to Conquer Cancer team are spinning to raise funds for their cause in Maple Ridge on Saturday.
Colleen Rebalkin and Bill Browne, of the Conquistadors of Cancer, will set up in the parking lot at Meridian Farm Market, Dewdney Trunk Road at 227th Street, 3-6 p.m.
Meridian Farm Market will match all donations made in-store during the fundraising event, and will have gift basket prize draws for those who donate.
The Ride to Conquer Cancer is a two-day cycling event spanning over 200 kilometres from Vancouver to Seattle, Aug. 27-28.
The goal is “a world free from cancer.”
More than 2,000 cyclists commit to raise a minimum of $2,500 each, funds that go to work immediately to leading-edge research that has a direct impact on improvements to cancer care for patients right here in British Columbia.
Since 2009, the Ride to Conquer Cancer has raised $70 million for the B.C. Cancer Foundation and is B.C.’s largest cycling fundraiser.
Funds raised through the Ride to Conquer Cancer enable the B.C. Cancer Foundation to support life-saving cancer research and enhancements to care at the B.C. Cancer Agency.
The Conquistadors of Cancer is a registered team in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, with members from Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Surrey.
“This will be my fifth year doing the Ride to Conquer Cancer,” said Rebalkin, of Maple Ridge.
“What started as a goal for one co-worker and myself has blossomed to a nine-member team. The Ride to Seattle is grueling, but the satisfaction and the shared tears, laughter and achievement will stay with me always. The hardest part of the whole journey is the fundraising that takes us to the ride. I have personally raised over $12,000 the past years, and have committed to raise $2,500 this year. I have extreme gratitude for all those who support me and this cause.”
Three days after her first ride in 2012, her step mother was diagnosed with non-smokers lung cancer and went through a series of treatments.
“I lost her in June of 2015. She was a huge support for me and I ride in her memory,” Rebalkin said.
“Talking to cancer survivors and studying the B.C. Cancer Foundation’s research makes me confident that worthwhile advances are being made in our understanding and treatment of cancer.”
For Browne, of Pitt Meadows, this is his fourth year doing the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
“The past three years I have raised a total of $9,000, and I have committed to raise another $2,500 again this year. As I ponder people from my life who are now dead because of cancer, the thoughts of their faces gives me determination to continue. We probably all know someone who has had cancer, or who was lost to it. We feel good doing what we can to try to conquer this disease and its impact.”
• For more information, or to make online contributions, visit our participating team member pages at:
http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Vancouver2016?px=3994440&pg=personal&fr_id=1573
http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Vancouver2016?px=2857009&pg=personal&fr_id=1573
‘Like ’ the team’s page on Facebook – Conquistadors of Cancer.
Also, follow the team on Instagram @conquistadorsofcancer and Twitter @Tconquistadors.