To all my family, friends and supporters
It is with great excitement that I announce that in 2023 “The Journey For Hope” continues. Starting on May 18, 2023, I will be riding across Canada, along with 3 other riders and a support driver, from Victoria, BC to St. John’s, Nfld. This will be my 4th bike ride across Canada and I am doing it to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. As a cancer survivor, I want to inspire those living with cancer to keep fighting and never give up hope. Raising money to support cancer research is a very important and continuous goal for me. I strongly believe that I would not be here today if it were not for donations towards advancing cancer research.
It has almost been 11 years since my friends Bill, George, John and I completed our “Journey For Hope” bike ride across Canada to raise money benefitting the BC Cancer Society. It doesn't seemed long ago on May 31st, 2012, when George (fellow cancer survivor) and I started our bike ride from Cape Spears, Nfld. We stopped at Cape Bay, dipped our rear wheels into the Atlantic, and completed our journey 76 days (8,250 kms.) later when we dipped our front wheels into the Pacific in Victoria, BC. It was an incredible journey in which we experienced the beauty and diversity that is Canada. The most amazing experience was encountering Canadians from all walks of life who were so supportive of us with their donations, generosity and hospitality.
“The 2012 Journey For Hope” was my second bike trip across Canada. In 2009, three years after losing a kidney to cancer, I completed my first bike trip across Canada with Tour Du Canada, from Mile “0” in Victoria, BC to Signal Hill in St. John’s, Nfld. In 2014, I had a setback when a benign tumor was discovered growing on a nerve in my upper right arm. Although the tumor was surgically removed, the operation left permanent nerve damage, resulting in numbness and nerve pain from the elbow to the tip of the fingers in my right hand, making riding long distances uncomfortable. It took me a while to adapt to living daily with the constant numbness and chronic pain, especially when biking longer distances.
The opportunity to complete my 3rd bike trip across Canada came in early 2017 when I was approached by the Vancouver Cycle Touring Association (VCTA) and E & E Global Foundation to plan and lead a team of 10 riders on a bike tour across Canada to raise money for 6 different charities. We started our 2018 “Mission Is Possible Across Canada” ride from Mile “0” in Victoria, biking to Halifax, NS and ended our trip at Mile “0” in St. John’s, Nfld. The 73 day cycling trip took us through all 10 provinces and covered approx. 7,705 kms. In the end, we were successful in raising more than $117,000.
Fast forward to 2023 and I am again turning my attention to raising money for cancer research. This time, I will be taking a more northern route across Canada and my goal is to raise $50,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. To achieve this goal, I am asking for your support through your donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, and through spreading the word to your family and friends . You can cheer me on and follow my progress across Canada on my Journey For Hope Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyforHope. I look forward to meeting Canadians along my journey and inspiring those living with cancer to never give up hope!