Two RCMP members from Nanaimo are on the 2017 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team.
Cpl. Kevin Flood and Const. Samantha Caram have trained since March to take on the battle against childhood cancer.
Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock is an annual 1,100-kilometre fundraiser ride to communities across Vancouver Island that supports the Canadian Cancer Society’s research and other programs benefiting children with cancer and their families, which includes Camp Goodtimes, a summer camp on the Lower Mainland for child cancer patients.
The tour has raised more than $20 million to fight childhood cancer since 1998.
Flood, a general duty member with Nanaimo RCMP’s municipal force, has long awaited getting on a TDR team, but his former position with the RCMP’s federal wing prevented him from being photographed or have a public profile.
Like many tour riders, Flood and his family have experienced cancer.
“My family’s been affected by cancer over the years,” Flood said. “I lost an aunt, my grandfather I never met and, most recently in the last 10 years, my cousin lost her son to cancer at five years old … It was pretty traumatic for everybody just to watch my cousin and her husband go through it and they never recovered … Even to this day it takes its toll.”
Caram, with Nanaimo RCMP’s youth program and mother of two girls, waited 11 years to join the tour. Both of her parents have had cancer.
“My mom’s had cancer twice and it’s something I’ve wanted to do for the past, probably 11 years, and this is the first year it’s worked out for my family,” Caram said. “I’m fortunate to have two healthy girls, so I think it’s important to do since we’ve been so lucky.”
Finding time to train and fundraise is challenging. Support from family, employers, coworkers and other team members is a must to pull it all together.
Flood and his wife rely on her parents who put in time minding their two children.
“That’s kind of allowed this to make this happen for us … My wife’s my social media manager, too,” he said.
Caram’s mother is recruiting donations from friends and detachment staff are busy making baked goods to sell.
“My husband’s been amazing, keeping our family alive and happy while I’m off riding,” Caram said.
Flood and Caram are fit. They competed in a recent triathlon, but training for the tour presents unique challenges, for even veteran cyclists.
“Training [triathlon] helps, but in the big scheme of things there are days when it’s hard,” Flood said. “It hasn’t been a very warm spring so far. We’ve been riding in some pretty crappy days and lots of rain along the highways, but you know what, the one thing that’s been really good, even on those rough days, lots of supporters on the road. Like, people honking and waving to us. That really keeps you going on a rough day.”
Caram’s battle is against gravity.
“I was told the hills would get easier, but I’m not finding that. I still hate hills,” she said. “But it’s good because we have a great group of people. That makes it so much more fun.”
Added motivation comes from thinking about the children and families they’re trying to support through the tour. Flood and Caram know a fellow RCMP member and his wife who recently lost a child to cancer.
“You never see it coming. I had no idea until I heard their son had passed away, but those are the things that keep us going on our rides, the kids,” he said.
Flood and Caram will be looking for donations to help get them down from a scissor lift in front of Cabela’s in Nanaimo on Sunday (July 2) 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., which is a great opportunity to meet two riders representing Nanaimo in this year’s Tour de Rock.
The 2017 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock 24-rider team set out from Port Alice Sept. 23, will be in Nanaimo Oct. 2, 3 and and will finish the tour in Victoria on Oct. 6.
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