The 2014 Cops for Cancer Tour de North is now underway, with the grueling week-long cycling trip wrapping up in Prince Rupert Thursday afternoon.
The 24-person team of riders, including Prince Rupert's Bob Killbery and Cpl. Jennifer Collins, left Prince George on Sept. 12 and have already made stops in Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake, Smithers, Hazelton, Kitimat and Terrace. The final leg of the trip will depart for Prince Rupert early on Thursday
morning.
The riders will be arriving in Prince Rupert via McBride late in the afternoon and will make their way through Cow Bay en-route to a wrap-up event scheduled for the Northland Cruise Dock area at 5:30 p.m.
The Canadian Cancer Society is encouraging everyone to come out and welcome the riders and show their support of their efforts in raising funds to fight pediatric cancer. Refreshments will be served and it will be the final opportunity to get raffle tickets for a trip for two to Vancouver or a round-trip to Haida Gwaii or a night at the Crest Hotel's Treat Suite in support of the fundraising efforts of the two Prince Rupert riders.
"We would just like to see people, lots of people, there to greet us and support us as we finish the 800-plus kilometre ride. The more the merrier," said Cpl. Collins.
"Each community on the ride does a welcome event that is sponsored by community champions, so that no money is used from the Cancer Society proceeds."
This is the second time Killbery and Collins have teamed up for the tour, first riding from Prince George to Prince Rupert in 2012. Between the two tours, the two have raised more than $11,000 for pediatric cancer research and the Canadian Cancer Society's Camp Goodtimes.
Look for coverage of the Cops for Cancer Tour de North in next week's issue of the Northern View.