Prince Rupert sent a 11 riders to Langley, B.C. where they joined approximately 2,000 other cyclists from around the country who cycled south from Vancouver to Seattle to raise money for the BC Cancer Foundation.
“We had a good time, and we met lots of people,” said team captain Francis Wolfe.
Wolfe said overall, the Prince Rupert’s 14-person team raised $41,500 which was their highest total in the time they have participated in the ride. In total, the event raised $8.3 million.
The 250 kilometre, two-day event started in Langley, B.C. on Aug. 26, where the riders began riding south from through the Lower Mainland to the United States border, passing through Bellingham before ending the first day in Mount Vernon. On Aug. 27, the riders continued south through the north west of Washington State, passing through Lake Stevens and Woodinville before completing the ride in Redmond.
There were three new riders participating in this year’s event for Prince Rupert’s team. Wolfe said the team tried to stay together through the ride, but the differences in experience levels and hotter weather conditions made it a little more challenging for some of them. Overall, however, he said they all enjoyed the experience.
“Put it this way, they all signed up again for next year,” he said. “They all enjoyed it, they had a tough time on some of the hills, but we all made it over the finish line in the end.”
Among the first-time riders was Joseph Giordano, whose father Sandy had participated in the event for a number of years, but passed away earlier this year. Wolfe says the elder Girodano love chocolate chip cookies, and so they toasted Joseph as he crossed the finish line.
“It was a great moment that we all got to enjoy and share together,” Wolfe said.