VICTORIA – July 14, 2020 – 2020 has been quite the year, but this year’s Cycle of Life Tour riders are making the most of those “2”s and “0”s and getting on their bikes in support of hospice care on Vancouver Island. While the Cycle of Life Tour presented by Think Communications group ride event was postponed until 2021 due to the challenges of COVID-19, that hasn’t stopped our riders from pedalling hard for local hospice care.
This month, riders are taking on The 2020 Challenge, in which they were encouraged to commit to riding 200km in their own community and to use “2” and “0”s in their own personal riding and fundraising goals. For example; ride 200km over 2 days, set a goal of raising $2,020 or ask 20 friends to donate $20 or $200.
“Every day I see the amazing work our staff and volunteers do to bring comfort and care to patients and families,” says rider Matt Williams, a Victoria Hospice staff member who is volunteering his time to support the cause.
“My ride is dedicated to a very special woman – my mother. In 2009, we lost her to cancer. If it wasn’t for an amazing team of palliative care doctors and nurses our time with her would have been cut even shorter. I am eternally grateful for the chance I had to properly say goodbye to someone who means so much to me.”
Matt’s 2020 challenge is to cycle 620 km during the month of July, the equivalent of 20 km a day. “While this month will be full of sweat and chain grease, it pales in comparison to the work Hospices do day-in, day-out across our island.” Funds raised from the Cycle of Life Tour support local hospices on Vancouver Island including:
- Campbell River Hospice Society
- Comox Valley Hospice Society
- Cowichan Valley Hospice Society
- Nanaimo Community Hospice Society
- Oceanside Hospice Society
- Salt Spring Island Hospice Society
- Victoria Hospice Society
The “finish line” celebration takes place virtually on July 20th but fundraising will continue as riders pedal their way into 2021. Since 2011, the Cycle of Life Tour has raised over $1M, for end-of-life care in communities across Vancouver Island. To learn more, please visit www.cycleoflifetour.ca.