Quesnel cyclists Ray Friesen and Marty McLaughlin cycled with 2,978 other bikers from Cloverdale, B.C. to Redman, Washington earlier this month and helped raise $11.1 million for the B.C. Cancer Foundation.
The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer was open to anyone willing to raise a little money and ride a bicycle for two days.
For Ray it was because of an invitation from a childhood friend, that he decided to join the ride.
“My friend lost his father and his sister to cancer,” Friesen said.
For McLaughlin, he lost his mother to cancer last December and it was at her request, he signed up.
However, Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer also appeals to groups and team efforts.
McLaughlin said about half the participants were on teams and one team numbered around 120 members.
“Cancer survivors also participate and they had special ribbons on their bikes,” he added.
When asked, Friesen said the draw seemed to be the distance (235 km) and the number of people involved.
“People spread the word and draw more people into the event,” he added.
“So it’s word of mouth and of course the cause.”
McLaughlin added that all the money raised stays in B.C.
Funds from the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer support groundbreaking cancer research at the BC Cancer Agency, focused on advancing new understanding of cancer with the goal of developing new therapies to extend and save more lives.
Each rider was to raise as much money as possible. Friesen raised $2,800 for the ride and McLaughlin raised $3,500.
Riders were from every walk of life, covered all ages and the bikes they rode were as individual as the rider.
McLaughlin’s carbon fibre, 20-pound, 20 gear set of wheels is a recent acquisition purchased for the Gran Fondo, 120 km race from Vancouver to Whistler in September.
“This fundraiser was an excellent ride to help prep for that race,” he said.
Friesen, who has only been road riding for about a year, is proud of his Trek 1000 hand-me-down bicycle.
“It’s a bit of a clunker but it’s orange and appears faster that it is,” he said with a laugh.
Unlike McLaughlin who had a flawless ride, despite the almost constant rain, Friesen had to change a flat tire along the route.
“I expect to ride the same clunker next year,” he said.
“It served me well.”
McLaughlin is looking to form a team next year and if Friesen doesn’t join his friend’s team, he might consider teaming up with McLaughlin.
“I’d like to meet what I did this past year and possibly exceed it,” Friesen said.
Both are planning on signing up for next year’s ride and encourage anyone interested in supporting them to visit the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer website.