Supporting Cancer Research

According to the BC Cancer Foundation, one in two people in British Columbia will face cancer in their lifetime. While there is no general cure, advances are being made in diagnosis, treatment and patient care for the various types of cancer. Since its inception, the Ride to Conquer Cancer has raised over $96 million in 11 years – it is the largest fund raiser in British Columbia to support all three areas.

Funds raised from the Ride have contributed to the world's largest breast cancer study, the purchase of two PET/CT scanners, and a world-leading Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics program at BC Cancer to treat prostate cancer.

Since 2018 I have supported this event every year, three times as a rider. Below is an account of my ride in 2021.

 

Tour de Cure 2021- Why ride 100km?

That’s a good question. When I started to ride a road bicycle six years ago I thought 20km was a decent distance. Then I gradually built up endurance and 50km became an unofficial target for my weekend rides. For a couple of years I had considered participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer when it was a two-day event from Vancouver to Seattle. In 2018 I finally plucked up the courage to train for the event. With the support of colleagues and friends who were more experienced riders I was able to stretch to riding 100km back-to-back over two consecutive days from Cloverdale, Surrey to Chilliwack and surrounding area.

For the past two years due to the pandemic, the event had to be adapted to individual rides, or at most riding in small groups rather than an organized mass ride. In 2021 the event was rebranded as the Tour de Cure, but the fundraising was still for BC Cancer Foundation.

Photo: Stanley Park, Coal Harbour

I chose to ride on my own, with the support of my son Cameron who had relocated from Toronto to work from home temporarily. We mapped out a scenic route that would take us through three municipalities covering 117km. On Saturday August 28 we set off at 7:30am from home in Vancouver heading north to Stanley Park to cross Lions Gate Bridge. We wound our way on hilly but picturesque Marine Drive past some impressive waterfront homes and West Vancouver Yacht Club before making a final climb towards Horseshoe Bay. At the roundabout, a driver who obviously didn’t have a GPS or smartphone asked us for the way to the ferry terminal. I gave him directions but 15 minutes later as we retraced our route on Marine Drive we saw him again by which time he had missed the turn I told him about. But we had to push on.

Photo: Route map

At Ambleside in West Vancouver we made our first stop after 45km at a café for coffee and a snack. It was mid-morning and the sun was warm. Feeling reinvigorated by caffeine and some protein we made our way south. You don’t notice the incline on the Lions Gate Bridge in a car the way it affects you on a bicycle. Thankfully from mid-span it was mostly downhill as we continued south to Richmond via the Arbutus Greenway to the Canada Line Bridge which dumped us by River Rock Casino. My friend Adrian joined us for the second half of our ride en route to Richmond. We reached the southernmost point of our ride in Steveston by early afternoon, and were ready for lunch. We had covered 85km at that point so we didn’t have to rush. We sat on a patio overlooking the Fraser River and soaked up the fine weather.

Photo: Steveston after lunch

One point that the organizers always stress to participants is that the event is not a race, but a ride. Sitting in the saddle for over five hours gives one a lot of time to think. Why am I doing this ride? How will the money we raise be spent to help cure and treat cancer patients? What impact cancer has had on those close to me? In particular I thought about my sister and father who had succumbed to this disease. Throughout the day, I encountered other riders also wearing the distinctive Tour de Cure jersey; we would wave to each other, acknowledging our collective effort to ride for the same cause. The chance greeting lifted my spirits as I knew I was not alone. Cameron and Adrian provided invaluable support not just by being good company, but taking turns at the front so I could draft and ride with less wind resistance which I appreciated.

Over the past two years combined, I had raised over $19,000 from my supporters like you, many of whom have donated every year. That amount shot past my target of $15,000. Words cannot describe how grateful and appreciative I am of your generosity as well as emotional support. Many of you know how cancer has touched my family and me. Together with my colleagues, Team RBC raised over $200,000 that contributed towards the campaign total of $5.5 million.

Going back to my original question – why ride 100km (or 117km in my case)? It’s my way of doing something practical so that we can support the medical doctors, researchers and practitioners who are looking for a cure for cancer. We don’t know when that will happen, but for as long as I can ride a bicycle I will do my part. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Photo: Tour de Cure jersey, name tag and medal.

 

Regards,
Shiuman