The 22-member team for this year’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock was introduced at the Royal B.C. Museum Saturday (May 14).
Among the officers to ride the 1,000-kilometre bike ride are five members of the Saanich police: Scott Green, Stephanie McFarlane, Aaron Murray, Steve Robinson and Andrew Harward.
Also involved are three members of the media, including Chris Bush from Black Press, Brittany King of Kool FM and Louise Hartland of A News.
The cyclists, who have been training since early March, learned whether they made the cut last week.
They will ride from the northern to southern tip of Vancouver Island between Sept. 24 and Oct. 7.
Their commitment, however, extends well beyond their demanding ride.
Each will collect pledges and host a variety of fundraisers for pediatric cancer research and programs for children with cancer.
“The amount of time they put into the training and the commitment to the cause … is substantial,” said Cynthia Durand-Smith, of the Canadian Cancer Society. “If they didn’t have the support of their officers in charge of their detachment and their co-workers, they wouldn’t be able to do it.”
Then there’s the emotional aspect.
“When you get out in the community and you meet the people that you’re riding for .. the ones that have lost children to cancer … preparing for the emotional bit is difficult.”
At the unveiling event, the team was presented with their jerseys and bikes.
The riding team also includes two members from the Victoria Police Department (Alvin Deo and Mike Massine), one member from Oak Bay police (Jarrod Chistison), and one member of the West Shore RCMP (Rod Fraser).
rholmen@vicnews.com