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Former Nanaimo RCMP officer has hands to sky, seeking money for Tour de Rock

Norm Smith living on an aerial platform at Country Club Centre until Sunday, June 28
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Norm Smith, a retired Nanaimo RCMP officer, will be spending June 26-29 on an aerial platform near the Save-On-Foods at Country Club Centre in Nanaimo, raising money for the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock. (Karl Yu/Nanaimo News Bulletin)

A former Nanaimo RCMP officer will have his hands raised sky high, seeking to raise money for the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock this weekend.

Norm Smith boarded an aerial platform Friday morning and will spend his time 10 metres above Country Club Centre until 8 p.m. Sunday, June 28, in a fundraiser for children’s cancer research.

Smith said he’s involved with the tour fundraising committee and is prepared for the long haul.

“I have a laptop here … I have a cellphone and I have some games on the computer, so I’ll just kind of pass the time that way,” said Smith.

Daryl Major, Tour de Rock committee volunteer, said organizers have had to make adjustments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and while there will be a tour this year, a gala that is traditionally part of the Nanaimo stop has been cancelled due to physical distancing.

“It’s going to be a much different tour this year, just because of the social distancing and the volunteer commitments that first responders can do,” said Major. “But we’re out here and we’re just trying to raise some money and help some kids.”

While the sky greyed and rain began falling Friday afternoon, Smith said it was actually refreshing.

“A little bit of rain’s not too bad,” said Smith. “It’s nice because it’s overcast. It’s kind of cool. With … sun it would be really miserable up here.”

Save-On-Foods started off the event with a $2,500 donation and Major estimated money raised was near the $5,000 mark as of Friday afternoon.

For more on the Tour de Rock, including how to donate, go to www.tourderock.ca.

RELATED: Tour de Rock 2019 team raises $1.1 million



reporter@nanaimobulletin.com

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Karl Yu

About the Author: Karl Yu

After interning at Vancouver Metro free daily newspaper, I joined Black Press in 2010.
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