If you missed out on Red Serge Gala tickets in support of our area’s Cops for Cancer cycling event, Tour de Coast, there are other chances to be part of local fundraising to help fight childhood cancers. After the popular Sept. 10 gala, the tour’s Community Day will happen Sept. 15 at the Sunshine Coast Botanical Gardens in West Sechelt.
What's happening Sept. 15?
Between noon and 2 p.m., this family-friendly gathering will be an opportunity for residents to meet and greet tour riders, who will be on day three of their eight day, 800 kilometre cycling journey. Community Day is free to attend and will feature live music and face painting, as well as ways for individuals to add to the over $405,000 that has already been raised (as of Sept. 4) in tour donations. At the only mid-ride public event on the lower Coast, there will be raffles and lunch available for purchase, to help the tour achieve it’s $650,000 goal in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Chairperson of the tour’s local fundraising committee, Kristi Wiebe updated Coast Reporter on the public event that will be the official welcome for “well over 30 riders” on the tour. Included in that number will be her husband Cpl. Mark Wiebe and another representative from the Sunshine Coast RCMP Detachment, riding under the moniker of “Maxx Danger”.
“They are set to arrive around 12:20pm at the Botanical Gardens so we are hoping to have a big crowd outside as the arrive. It’ll be a sea of blue and bright sunshine yellow logos on the jerseys coming up 35 strong, after conquering Norwest Bay (road) hill. It is going to be quite a scene.”
Kristi, a veteran with the local organizing group for the tour, noted that the Sunday event will also include the presentation of cheque representing money raised through our area’s gala and via donations, which she anticipates will top $50,000.
"Generous" support from the Coast
On behalf of the group and the tour, she made special mention of the multitude of generous doners, ranging from individual entrepreneurs like artists to major industries that have already supported our area’s riders. She stated ”we get e-transfers every day from the most generous businesses on the Sunshine Coast, we’re so lucky”
“The Sunshine Coast really gives the riders a really great reception when they are here,” she noted, explaining that this is the second year the tour will traverse the length of the lower Coast on a weekend date, allowing for an open public gathering rather than a visit to a single school, which was the case in earlier years.
After the Community Day event which is the tour crew and riders lunch break for Sept. 15, Mark will have a chance to share part of his favourite training ride,(West Sechelt to Largo Road, down through Roberts Creek and back through Sechelt) with the others, according to his wife. This will be Crpl Wiebe’s third tour.
“He said he loves bringing other riders through the Sunshine Coast because it is by far the most scenic and gorgeous route and he’s proud that this is where he is representing,” Kristi noted.
“I think he finds the ride a bit more challenging now than he did on his first tour 12 years ago as a brand new Mountie. Add a couple of kids and a little less sleep, and he is likely finding it a bit more difficult, but he also understands he is lucky to be able to do this. He feels privileged to be in a position to do this; he doesn’t take it for granted.
For those that can’t get out to a local Tour de Coast event, they can make a donation or participate in the tour’s central fundraising raffle online.
The Cops for Cancer initiative, which the tour is part of began in 1997. “As a partnership between first responders and the Canadian Cancer Society, we’ve raised nearly $54 million to increase survival rates and support children living with cancer and their families,” it’s website notes.
