Cyclists and community members with a helping hand to lend can mark Sept. 10-14 down on their calendars, as Cancervive wraps up the summer season with the ‘Tour du Cancervive’.
The four-day cycling event, which begins in Edmonton and finishes in Calgary, is in search of avid cyclists to participate in the event; the cap on cyclists will be 100.
The minimum volunteer fundraising commitment is $2,500; the goal is to raise $250,000 this year.
The event is also putting a call out for corporate sponsors and volunteers who can assist with traffic control when the ride arrives in Cochrane to camp out for one night on Sept. 13.
Since 2005, Cancervive has held an annual ride (with the exception of 2013) that sends cyclists from Calgary to various destination spots in the U.S.
All of the funds raised by the volunteer-based organization go toward local cancer survivorship programs at Wellspring (locations in Calgary and Edmonton); Wellspring is a registered Canadian charity that provides a variety of programming for cancer survivors and their families.
“We want to make connections with the towns we’re going through and raise awareness for Wellspring,” said Cancervive general manager, Peggy Pankhurst-Brosens, also as avid cyclist and a Cochrane resident.
Pankhurst-Brosens explained that Cancervive chose to focus their efforts on putting together a local ride; in previous years, the nine-day ride with a $10,000 minimum fundraising commitment proved to be a challenge for some participants.
With the hopes of attracting more participants, Cancervive is keeping it local for the 2014 ride; participants will be able to specify that a minimum of $500 of their fundraised amounts to go toward Wellspring Calgary or Wellspring Edmonton.
“Just $100 can pay for a month’s worth of programming for a Wellspring member,” said Pankhurst-Brosens.
Visit wellspringcalgary.com to learn more about the charitable organization whose mission is to ensure that ‘no one has to face cancer alone’.
The ride will make overnight stops in Drayton Valley, Rocky Mountain House and Cochrane; the final ride will be from Cochrane to Wellspring Calgary’s Carma House; all riders will be provided four nights in hotels, food and support along the ride.
To learn more about Cancervive and the Tour du Cancervive, visit cancervive.ca or contact Pankhurst-Brosens at [email protected] or 403-521-5292, ext. 308.
