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The final stretch

Travelling to Vancouver to support the BC Children's Hospital.

Day seven

Woke up to a cloudy morning in Whistler, only to be excited for the final leg of our tour for BC Children’s Hospital.

With more than 600km cycled, many stories were shared, many lessons learned were, many emotional moments were had and many new friends were met.

We thank you all for your support, financially and spiritually.

We were blessed to have a very strong rider lead us from Whistler to Vancouver, Eric Kjode.

Eric paced us and let us work around him to keep us safe and protected from the rain and wind.

Eric provided us with a great pace, the first 30km we did in 55 minutes in the rain.

We were super excited to be visited by Bal Risma a former Quesnel resident living in Squamish with his family who bought us coffee to warm up and gave us such positive energy. His guidance was much appreciated and his conversation uplifting.

Eventually Eric got a flat, after the repair Rob got one before Horseshoe Bay.

Eric took us through Marine Drive via Horseshoe Bay. Hardly any traffic and very scenic.

Last day, now only 3km to go until Children’s Hospital.

We are already being asked what we are doing next year.

The finish line

Well here were are prepping for the final leg of our journey to BC Children’s Hospital Pediatrics/Neurology and the completion feeling has not sunk in.

We feel that this is just the beginning. We feel that what we have done or just started is something that will grow.

I look at the past visionaries of my generation and two come to mind.

Those two heroes are Terry Fox and Rick Hanson. I saw Rick Hansen pass through Quesnel when I was 10-years-old. I believe those two heroes played a role in shaping my brain to be a role model and be the best person I could be.

At 9 a.m. as Balj was setting up our gear and equipment and my dad was getting ready, Jaden curled up with me in bed and fell asleep.

I held her and watched her sleep, thinking back to when she was a baby.

Then remembered the seizures and visits to BC Children’s Hospital and was thinking that this journey began because of the super warm service she received at BC Children’s Hospital.

I was thinking that this journey began because we believe that what we are doing may allow a child or many children to have one more day to hug someone, maybe our fundraiser will allow one  child to go home.

I was thinking, wow we did it. I have so many thoughts in my mind but I’m speechless.

Jaden was in a peaceful sleep. I’m sure we’ve all had our parents just watch us sleep when we were kids.

A child is the most precious item we have no matter our age. Wanting to protect them at all costs but not knowing when a seizure can happen is scary.

We were soaking it all in going over Oak Bridge watching everybody moving fast, jockeying their cars.

Life was moving too fast for these people. For Rob and I this was just the beginning of a long term plan to serve and help others. It’s as if time stood still and we moved in slow motion.

Arriving at BC Children’s the first person we met was a former student of mine from Quesnel._ Nick McLean, walked from downtown to see us. Thank you Nick for visiting and staying to tour the hospital.

We rolled in to a standing ovation. After conversing and radio interview.

It was time for the cheque, $30,937.38

Rob still couldn’t believe what had happened.

My dad had said that he would match whatever amount came in, $15,849.79.

Dad is a big man with a big heart.

We didn’t always have much and with those days of not having much we learned a lot. Tough lessons but we survived.

A lot of our success is based on the work John Ernst gave my dad and thus we remained in Quesnel.

Quesnel has been very good to the Sull family and it’s important to give back.

Quesnel Cycling is Rob Gardner and Armajit (Archie) Sull. They are riding to Whistler this summer to raise funds for the B.C. Children’s hospital.

Links

Twitter: @quesnelcycling

Instagram: quesnelcycling

YouTube: QuesnelCycling

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/QuesnelCycle