The Canadian Cancer Society’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock will be pedalling in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area but the tour will look significantly different due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Alumni rider Allison Roberts of RLC Park Services, who represented the Parksville Qualicum Beach area in 2018, will be back to join a smaller group of former Tour de Rock riders that aims to keep the spirit and magic of the tour alive.
“I’m honoured and excited to get on my bike again and wear the colours of Tour de Rock in Parksville and Qualicum and hopefully build some excitement and support in Oceanside for an important cause,” said Roberts, who added that this will show the kids and families living with cancer that they are supported.
“Cancer doesn’t stop in a pandemic and neither does Tour de Rock’s efforts to fundraise for pediatric cancer research and Camp Goodtimes,” she said.
This year’s Tour de Rock starts Wednesday, Sept. 23, launching from Port Alice as in previous years and winding its way down the Island, finishing in Victoria on Oct. 2. COVID-19 restrictions prevented the formation of a new team, so for the first time in the Tour de Rock’s 22-year history, alumni riders are pedalling segments of the route within their communities on consecutive days, like a relay of mini-tours.
There will be five alumni riders riding from Parksville to Qualicum Beach on Friday, Sept. 25.
There are already some dedicated supporters of the tour in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area who plan to be out on that day to help raise funds.
Parksville Coun. Adam Fras said he, along with members of the Oceanside RCMP detachment and Joan LeMoine, who has consistently been involved with the COPS for Cancer Tour de Rock, having her locks shaved for cash, plan to be at Save-On Foods from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25 to ask the public for donations.
Those wishing to donate to the COPS for Cancer Tour de Rock can also drop them off the Parksville Community Centre as well as online.