A team of 25 law enforcement and emergency services personnel will set out on an 800 km bicycle trip on Thursday, Sept. 26 to raise funds for pediatric cancer programs and research.
The Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley begins in Aldergrove and travels through more than a dozen Fraser Valley communities before ending in Abbotsford on Friday, Oct. 4.
In every community, the tour stops at schools and supporter businesses to promote the ride and its cause.
The Tour de Fraser Valley has participants from communities including Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Delta, Langley, Mission, Surrey and White Rock.
Taking part from Abbotsford are Craig Burridge, Trevor Sales and Daryl Young from the Abbotsford Police Department, and Jon Pothier with BC Sheriff Services.
The first Cops for Cancer program started in 1994, when an Edmonton police officer with a shaved head posed for a photo with a young cancer patient.
The officer wanted to support the boy, who was being ridiculed at school because of his hair loss.
Other officers joined, and Cops for Cancer was launched.
It has since expanded across the province to include four tours, raising more than $25 million to fund pediatric cancer programs and research through the Canadian Cancer Society.
Money donated to Cops for Cancer is also used for the operation of Camp Goodtimes, a summer recreation program at Loon Lake in Maple Ridge offered at no cost to children affected by cancer and to their families.
The other three tours take place in Greater Vancouver, the northern region and Vancouver Island, also in September.
Visit copsforcancer.ca to make a donation and find out more about Cops for Cancer.
Tour de Valley schedule:
Sept. 26 – Aldergrove, Langley
Sept. 27 – White Rock, South Surrey
Sept. 28 – Abbotsford, Chilliwack
Sept. 29 – Hope, Boston Bar, Chilliwack
Sept. 30 – Chilliwack, Mission
Oct. 1 – Mission, Maple Ridge, Surrey
Oct. 2 – Ladner, Tsawwassen, Surrey, North Delta
Oct. 3 and 4 – Abbotsford