Tour de Rock ride makes its way to the Comox Valley
Nearly two dozen Tour de Rock riders made their way into the Comox Valley on Wednesday, the fifth day of their cycling journey across Vancouver Island to raise money for childhood cancer research.
The year marks the 25th anniversary of the event, and rider Robin Campbell from Courtenay, B.C., was happy to be heading for her hometown.
"It's for a great cause," Campbell said. "I have a little junior rider. Her name is Amaeya. She is my shining star and I’m doing this for her."
The Courtenay rider is also part of the Cups for Cancer campaign, an equestrian fundraiser that benefits the same cause.
"This year, there’s a little girl from an elementary school we're going to be going to who raised $6,000 for a buckle that was in memory of my previous partner," she said.
The $6,000 donation was just one of many collected at school events in the region.
"A lot of people look at this as a two-week commitment," said Steve Robinson, a Saanich police officer and the team's spokesperson. "But the team has been training for eight months, so this is really full-time, really a lifestyle while you’re training for this ride.
"I had a fairly significant bout with my own cancer in 2009 and tried out for the team the next year and actually made one of the bike seats in 2011," Robinson added.
John Belanger has spent 12 years with the team as a motorcycle escort, keeping the team safe as the riders travel down island highways and streets.
"I always tell people you have to have your head on a swivel, otherwise somebody's going to get hurt," he said.
The Tour de Rock ride is expected to make it to Victoria at the end of their 1,200-kilometre ride on Oct. 7.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.