Prince George, B.C. – The Cops for Cancer, Tour de North, arrived in Prince George about an hour later than expected, but that didn’t damped the enthusiasm of the more than 100 people who had gathered on 3^rd Avenue last evening to give the riders a heroes welcome.

 

This is the 13^th year   for the Tour de North, a cycling challenge that has a team of riders, most of them members of the RCMP, wheel their way    through the region. Last year, the ride was to Prince Rupert, this year, the North-South route is the challenge.   All in the name of raising dollars for paediatric cancer research and support for children on a cancer journey.

 

 

“We are making gains” says Barbara Kaminsky, CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society for the B.C./Yukon Region. “Years ago, a child with leukemia had a 50-50 chance of survival, today, children with that form of cancer have an 85% survival rate. So we are making progress, but there is so much more to be done.”

 

The Cops for Cancer Tours, raise money   throughout their regions, with donations made in each community they visit. “It (the annual ride) really speaks to the power of the communities. Even  in challenging time, people rally together because they think the cause is so important, everyone knows someone who is affected by cancer, but the fact the funds raised here are for kids with cancer, either for research or Camp Goodtimes programming, I mean, how could you not support this?”

 

The  Tour de North team is expected to exceed last year’s donations, which hit the $320 thousand dollar mark.

 

Today, the team heads to Quesnel, and wraps up the 2013 Tour on Thursday in Williams Lake.