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Tour de Rock arrives in Nanaimo, now it’s off to the next station

Cops for Cancer team completes Nanaimo section of Vancouver Island cycle relay

A totally different kind of Tour de Rock is managing to have an impact as it makes its way from one Vancouver Island community to the next.

The Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team pedalled through Nanaimo on Sunday, Sept. 27, as riders completed their relay leg through the community before making way for the next team.

The team stopped for a barbecue lunch outside the Coach and Horses pub at the old Nanaimo train station. A series of cheque presentations were made, with the local Canadian Cancer Society chapter donating $10,000 raised by tour alumnus Norm Smith in a platform-lift charity event earlier this year as well as $2,000 from its recent garage sale.

Southern Railway of Vancouver Island and Island Corridor Foundation each presented $5,000 cheques, Parksville Rotary Club donated $2,000 and the Tom Harris Community Foundation added $1,000.

“It means a lot to be able to help kids, especially in a year where we can’t do a lot of our normal fundraising,” said Nanaimo RCMP Const. Samantha Caram. “So just to be able to do this little part of riding in one community, it’s a lot.”

On their way to to the train station, the team made ride-by visits to the homes of three Nanaimo families affected by cancer. Caram said the families were so happy to see the Tour de Rock team and she said the feeling was mutual.

In typical years, a team of riders trains for months before cycling the entire Island, but this year’s preparation wasn’t as intensive.

“There really hasn’t been a lot of training this year, so we’re pretty tired after the Nanaimo hills today,” Caram said.

The Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock raises money for the Canadian Cancer Society to be able to help children and families affected by childhood cancer. For more information or to donate to the Tour de Rock, visit www.tourderock.ca.

READ ALSO: COVID-19 isn’t cancelling this year’s Tour de Rock



editor@nanaimobulletin.com

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