Riders set off on 25th annual Tour de Rock
After months of preparation, the 25th annual Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock is officially underway.
Riders were in Port Alice on Saturday for the first leg of their 1,200-kilometre journey down Vancouver Island to raise money for pediatric cancer research.
This year, CTV News Vancouver Island's Anna McMillan is one of the riders making the journey.
"I'm so excited to finally get on the road," she said at a kickoff event Saturday morning.
"This morning has been so positive. I haven't cried once during training, and I've cried three times today, I think because everything's just starting to feel really real. Being surrounded by this good energy and really getting to start to know the stories of the kids that we're riding for means a lot."
This year's event is the first one since 2019 to ride the full route from Port Alice to Victoria. In 2020 and 2021, a modified Tour de Rock was held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's been a couple of years since we've been able to do this," said Jennifer Ames, co-chair of the Tour de Rock steering committee.
"To see the riders ready and excited … It's really lovely to see."
This year, riders are aiming to raise $600,000 through the event. Over the last 25 years, the Tour de Rock has raised more than $26 million dollars for the cause.
The ride will conclude in the capital region on Oct. 7.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.