Ben Rides the Tour de Cure 2023
The big 2023 summer adventure goal is now set! In late August, I will line up at the start of the Tour de Cure, presented by Wheaton Precious Metals in support of the BC Cancer Foundation. This is a two-day bike riding event in BC’s lower mainland.
If you know anything about me or my riding over the past six years, I’ve ridden 1,877km for the Great Cycle Challenge Canada, an independent month-long km tracking fundraiser in support of SickKids Foundation. Together you and I raised over $4,200 for this cause that has some family connection for me. I have two cousins who went through cancer treatments as children including one in the past few years.
Riding in August 2022 wearing my Great Cycle Challenge Canada fundraising jersey recognizing $500+ raised that year.
This year, unfortunately, cancer has come to the other side of my family as a cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through some major surgery just after the winter holidays. To recognize her ongoing recovery - and for some self-indulgent bike adventures on my part, I’ll admit - I am committing to ride the Tour de Cure and raise money for life-saving cancer research here in BC.
The event itself will be 260km in two days, riding around Langley and the Fraser Valley up to Hope. This is more than I’ve done in two days - ever - and more than half what I did all through August last year. Cycling long distances is hard, but it pales in comparison to facing cancer. My goal is to raise $2,500 for this challenge, and I need your support to do this.
To help conquer this challenge I am planning some “training” adventures through the later spring and through the summer. I may not have the most free time or the best work out mentality, but by adding some fun (and learning more about recovery) I think I’ll be ready for August.
Can I visit every school in my district?
Can I visit all the Gulf Islands in one trip?
Can I go from Nanaimo to Victoria and back for lunch between sunrise and sunset?!
The fact that 1 in 2 people in BC will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life adds some extra motivation to join this fight. I hope you will follow my journey and add your support to get me through this adventure and add your voice of encouragement for my cousin’s recovery.
I can’t wait for the summer, not just because I am tired of the cold and rainy days, but because I have a new bike to ride! I’ve picked up a 2019 Fairdale Nomad Weekender and it. is. so. fun. I’ve taken it for a few short rides already this spring, probably the earliest I’ve ever ridden during the year. The bike still needs a bit of tweaking to get perfect, but I already like it and am getting used to how smooth it rides compared to my old 1970s too-small road racer.
Over the spring as the adventures start I’ll start a dedicated Instagram account or maybe a newsletter or something. Let me know what you’d like to follow along with!
