It was hot, it was sunny, and it was Canada’s birthday, the day people flock to the legislature in their red and white to show their national pride.
Jen Young and I couldn’t have picked a better day to stage our dueling bikes show-down to raise money for Tour de Rock.
We didn’t have much time since Jen, a VicPD bike cop, had to work the Canada Day night shift, along with just about every other cop or reserve constable in the city tasked with dumping out open alcohol and controlling the drunken debauchery.
Our two-hour spin will no-doubt raise some scoffs from our TDR counterparts from Saanich police who rode stationary bikes for an impressive eight hours during their barbecue Saturday!
We set up along Belleville Street from noon to 2 p.m., our Canadian Cancer Society tent part of a string of tents that made up the City of Victoria’s “active nation station”; trainers from the Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence ran physical challenges for kids, volunteers from Eli Pasquale Basketball let kids shoot some hoops and four-time Olympic gold medalist Simon Whitfield was on hand to sign autographs.
All we had was our legs spinning the pedals around on the wind trainers that kept us stationary. And tattoos — those Cops for Cancer tattoos were a God send. They seemed to be the No. 1 thing that attracted kids to us, rather than just giving us a confused stare as they ponder why on earth someone would ride but not go anywhere.
In terms of raising awareness, we couldn’t have picked a better spot, as dozens of people came by to chat and learn more about Cops for Cancer, which supports childhood cancer research and helps send kids with cancer to Camp Goodtimes.
Many people already knew about the cause. One mom explained to her kids that in September, we’ll ride from the top of the Island to the bottom over 13 days in order to raise money. Several people shared their personal stories, such as an elderly woman who was spending her first Canada Day without her husband, who died of cancer in October.
Others filled us in about their own Cops for Cancer fundraising efforts — the woman who raised $350 last year by shaving her head, or the couple who plan a benefit dinner every year in Duncan. I’m always amazed by just how many people this cause, and sadly this disease, touches.
The generosity we saw was overwhelming. Whether it was $20 bills or a few quarters, so many people wanted to show their support. Every little bit brings us closer to our fundraising goal.
So a big thanks to everyone who dropped by to chat, making the time riding in one spot under the beating sun fly by. On Canada Day, it reminded me of the traits that make us distinctly Canadian: Generosity, camaraderie and a spirit of community.
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Katie DeRosa is one of the media riders for this year’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock, a 13-day bike ride from Port Alice to Victoria. Follow DeRosa's blog for details about the ongoing training, leading up to full coverage of the ride Sept. 20 to Oct. 3. To donate to her fundraising campaign, click here.
