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VIDEO: Ride 2 Survive 91原创 tree chipping event sets a record

There were more trees, and people were donating more per tree, organizer says
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Steve Harvey of Bartlett Tree Experts feeds trees into a chipper on Sunday, Jan. 3 during the annual Ride 2 Survive fundraiser at Willowbrook Shopping Centre, the seventh year that the company has donated its services.(Dan Ferguson/91原创 Advance Times)

By the time the last vehicle had dropped off the final tree at the Ride 2 Survive (R2S) tree chipping fundraiser at Willowbrook Shopping Centre in 91原创, Brian Thornburn knew they鈥檇 set a record.

鈥淚t was a zoo,鈥 Thornburn said of the two-day event that wrapped up on Sunday, Jan, 3.

He meant that in a good way.

The event raised $7,701.55, well above the previous best of $4,050 recorded last year.

All donations are going to benefit the through Ride2Survive and the Tour De Valley events, Thornburn said.

READ MORE: There will be fewer tree chipping events in 91原创 this year, but they will occur

Thornburn was seeing more trees than usual dropped off, and bigger donations.

鈥淧eople have been giving larger amounts,鈥 Thornburn noticed.

At the end of the last day, volunteers from Bartlett Tree Experts filled three big trucks with wood chips, plus a pickup truck, the most ever.

鈥淚t鈥檚 seven years they鈥檝e [Bartlett Tree Experts] done it for us,鈥 a grateful Thornburn remarked.

There were enough trees chipped on Sunday to fill three Bartlett trucks and a pickup truck.

READ ALSO: 91原创 Christmas tree chipping event a win-win for residents and fundraiser

Thornburn, a paramedic with the BC Ambulance Infant Transport Team, hosts the Christmas tree chipping event to raise money for Ride 2 Survive (R2S) which raises funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.

In June, assuming the pandemic doesn鈥檛 prevent it, he will ride 400 kilometres from Kelowna to Delta, covering a climb of more than 12,000 vertical feet.

Ride2Survive is a registered non-profit society.

Every dollar raised by participants is used for research and sometimes cancer treatment equipment purchases, while the costs associated with the ride are borne by participants and sponsors.

Since 2005, the event has raised more than $9 million that has gone directly to cancer researcher鈥檚 projects.



dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

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There was a constant flow of traffic at the annual Ride 2 Survive fundraiser at Willowbrook Shipping centre on Saturday, Jan. 2 and Sunday, Jan. 3 (Dan Ferguson/91原创 Advance Times)
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鈥業t was a zoo鈥 said a pleased Brian Thornburn of the huge response to the annual Ride 2 Survive wood chipping fundraiser on the Saturday, Jan. 2 weekend. (Dan Ferguson/91原创 Advance Times)


Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

I鈥檓 the guy you鈥檒l often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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