Cloverdale resident Brian Dougherty was one of 1,500 cyclists from across Canada, the United States, Hong Kong and Brazil who set off from Cloverdale Saturday (Aug. 16) on the Tour de Cure.
The fundraising cycling event is the largest in B.C.鈥檚 history, which has raised millions of dollars for cancer care research through the BC Cancer Foundation, Sarah Roth, president & ceo of the BC Cancer Foundation, said.
鈥淓veryone knows somebody with cancer, and the more we can invest in research that springs the hope for cancer erasure.鈥�
The crowd erupted with applause when Roth announced the 2023 Tour de Cure raised $7.1 million dollars for the B.C. Cancer Foundation.
鈥淭his is the most promising time in cancer research,鈥� Roth said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 so important that we ensure that all donor dollars raised at Tour de Cure and through BC Cancer Foundation fund that work鈥�
This event is deeply personal for Dougherty. He lost his mother to pancreatic cancer in 2000.
Since then, he has been passionate about raising funds for various cancer charities. This is his seventh year taking part in the Tour de Cure.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just awesome being part of 1500 riders that all have a similar common goal of going out there and just having a good day today and raising money,鈥� he said.
On the first day, cyclists travel along two different routes of their choice鈥攐ne is 100 kilometres and the other is 150 kilometres鈥攂efore ending at Chilliwack Heritage Park, where they鈥檒l camp out for the night.
On Day two (Aug. 27), riders will leave Chilliwack Heritage Park at 8 a.m. and bike one 100-kilometre route to Hope Memorial Park.
For Dougherty, his ride will not end in Hope.
鈥淚 committed to continue from Hope to Merritt,鈥� Dougherty said. 鈥淪o that鈥檚 the plan right now and I鈥檓 going to try to continue to do that after the ride on Sunday.鈥�
Dougherty had already clocked 206km before the event even started.
His ride began in Whistler on Friday (Aug. 26).
He cycled from Whistler to 91原创, riding past Horizon Contracting Group鈥檚 head office in 91原创, where he is one of the owners.
鈥淚t was the longest ride I鈥檝e ever done in my life yesterday,鈥� said Dougherty.
This year, he is riding from Cloverdale to Hope with the PCL team.
鈥淚t鈥檚 much more enjoyable being part of your community and a team than trying to do it by yourself,鈥� Dougherty said.
To raise some more money, he thought he would do something different this year.
鈥淚 would have different tiers to help motivate some generosity, which seems to help because I鈥檝e never raised this much money before,鈥� Dougherty said.
The tiers are:
鈥ier 1: If his donations exceed $6,000, he will start the ride from Horizon Contracting Group鈥檚 Squamish office on Friday, August 25th
鈥ier 2: If donations exceed $7,500, he will start the ride from Whistler on Friday, August 25
鈥ier 3: If donations exceed $15,000, he will continue on to Merritt
鈥ier 4: If donations exceed $25,000, he will continue on to Kelowna
*鈥滻f the air quality and/or changes in the Tour de Cure route keep me from contuning my journey to Merritt, I will continue my journey south into Washington along the coast or onto Vancouver Island to get the same distance in,鈥� he said.
As of 8 a.m., Saturday, he is at tier 3 having raised $17,145. to donate to Dougherty.
Formerly known as the Ride to Conquer Cancer, the Tour de Cure was created in 2009, and since then it has become a premier fundraising event in B.C., raising millions for leading cancer care innovation through the BC Cancer Foundation.
The 2024 Tour de Cure will happen on August 24- 25. To register for next year鈥檚 event visit www.tourdecure.ca.
-With files from Alexander Vaz & Malin Jordan
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