Five teams of REALTORS® joined more than 1,700 bicycle riders as they donned their helmets for an epic two-day journey from Vancouver to Seattle as part of British Columbia and Washington state's first ever Ride to Conquer Cancer.
Team RE/MAX Retreads
The REALTOR® teams - Cushman Cancer Crushers, Lance Phillips, RE/MAX Retreads, Team Dexter Realty and Team REBGV Commercial - collectively raised almost $200,000. In total, the ride raised $6.9 million for the BC Cancer Foundation and the Canary Foundation, which supports early detection cancer research in Washington state.
"Participation in the Ride to Conquer Cancer requires extraordinary dedication, it's not only the months of training, but it's also the emotions and memories that this event can evoke," said Scott Russell, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver president.
Affected by cancer
Nearly everyone who took part in the ride had been affected in some way by cancer. The participating REALTORS® were no exception.
"As a cancer survivor, I know the challenges faced by those touched by cancer," said Marty Pospischil, Team Dexter Realty. "In 1990 I was diagnosed with a germ cell tumour in my chest. The journey I experienced to a full recovery changed my life forever."
Others rode in memory of a loved one or for friends and relatives currently diagnosed with cancer.
"Many years ago I watched my dear mother battle lung cancer," remembers Frank Wright, RE/MAX Retreads. "I am doing this ride in her memory."
Gary Webb, Team REBGV Commercial, has a sister-in-law who is being treated for cancer on the tongue, and dedicated his ride to her.
Cyclists wait to cross border
The ride
Riding a total of 261 kms along a combination of secondary highways and trails, cyclists were treated to views of the coast, farms, pastures and, of course, the mountains.
Along the way, the intrepid cyclists encountered gut-wrenching climbs, pouring rain, hail, bee stings. They loved every moment of it.
The weather was a mixed experience. Those at the head of the pack managed to miss the pouring rain or hail that most of the others encountered.
"At our last pit-stop, the hail was pounding down and people were hiding under the trees for protection," said Frank Wright, RE/MAX Retreads.
Inevitably with 1,700 riders there were bound to be collisions.
"I was involved in a series of events that resulted in me hitting the ground head first," explains Hendrick Zessel, Cushman Cancer Crushers. "Bystanders said my head bounced about three feet off the ground, and thankfully all I got was a cracked helmet."
Going the distance
on a tandem bike
That story alone is a potent reminder for all bike riders to wear their helmets.
Not everyone, however, was riding solo on a two-wheeled bicycle. One rider did the whole trip on a unicycle, and a disabled rider used a specially designed four-wheeled bike which he powered by using a hand crank. Dave and Margo Peerless, Team Dexter Realty, rode the course on a tandem bike.
Mixed emotions
Participants experienced a mixture of emotions throughout the event: the thrill of finishing a challenging ride, which for many was the first time they had done anything like this; sadness at remembering those near and dear who had died or who were suffering from cancer; and the satisfaction of helping raise an astounding amount of money for cancer research.
"This was truly a remarkable event," said Dave Peerless, Team Dexter Realty. "I encourage others to join or create a team for next year, or to participate in some other way."