Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock wheeled into Sooke on Wednesday afternoon to the delight of students at Saseenos Elementary School.
The 20 riders were on the final legs of their two-week journey to raise money to fight childhood cancer with their 1,000-kilometer bike ride.
The students cheered, hooted and hollered as the riders entered the gym and gave each of the riders a sustained round of applause as they were introduced.
Deputy mayor Ebony Logins was on hand to welcome the riders as was Jane Beddows and members of the Harbourside Lions Club who had led a fundraising effort for the ride in Sooke.
RELATED: Community steps up after bottle drive hit by theft
The Harbourside Lions presented the Tour de Rock with a cheque for $4,111.35 and congratulated the riders for their efforts to combat pediatric cancer.
“I’m just so grateful to communities like Sooke for coming out and supporting us,” said Gord Burton, one of the riders and a member of the military police.
“This has been a humbling experience for me. We all realize that the real heroes are the kids battling cancer. We’re just doing what we can to help.”
Saseenos students got involved later in the event as they chanted the Camp Goodtimes cheer for the riders. The camp is one of the recipients of Tour de Rock funds and is a specially designed camp for kids with cancer.
Four junior riders – children who either have cancer or are cancer survivors and are paired with riders for the Tour de Rock– were also on hand and were the recipients of some of the loudest applause.
This is the 22nd year for the Tour de Rock; 22 years in which it has raised in more than $25 million for children with cancer.
mailto:tim.collins@sookenewsmirror.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter