Sears National Kids Cancer Ride Visits Perth-Andover

Posted On September 25, 2013

One of the biggest and most ambitious kid’s cancer charity groups made a stop at Hoyt’s Flowers and Gifts in Perth-Andover on September 19th.
The Sears National Kids Cancer Ride is on a cross-country Canadian Tour. The riders began their 17 day fund raising odyssey on September 5th at White Rock Beach in Vancouver, and will finish the journey at Black Rock in Halifax on September 21st!
26 cyclists are involved in this endeavour, and eight of them stopped in Perth at Hoyt’s, which is the local Sears outlet, to take a break from the road and enjoy a barbecue lunch buffet.
 

Paul and Beverly Clark of Clark’s SaveEasy generously donated supplies for the feast, and Beverly whipped up a delicious smoked gouda and sweet potato soup for the hungry bikers.
 

The cyclists travel with on the road support, a bike mechanic and a transport outfitted with bunks where they sleep each night of the journey, along with their trusty bicycles. (Each one of which, I might add, cost more than I paid for my car. You don’t head out on a bike ride across Canada on a yard sale bicycle!)
Participation in this endeavour represents a huge commitment for each member. Not only do they take time off from their jobs, they pay their own air fare to travel to the start off point, plus each rider also must pay $3,000 in registration fees to be a part of the team…this is to cover their uniforms and transport costs…and they must also commit to raising $25,000 each for the charity by whatever means they can!
 

These riders are totally committed to the cause. They begin each day of riding with a dedication and prayer to one particular child, and ride all day for that one kid who has been stricken with this pernicious and vicious disease.
Did you know that babies are now being born with cancer? New born babies, just hours old, are now being rushed into surgery and treatment. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.
 

The SNKCR Charity is unusual in that 100 percent of all funds raised goes directly to the kids and the research. None of the money is used to pay administrative fees or salaries.
The journey is accomplished in relays. The bikers ride for 8 hours each day, covering 250-300 km per day, and they will stop at 200 communities as they cross the country.
 

One of the bikers in this group was Dr Bruce Crooks, who is a children’s oncology specialist at IWK in Halifax.
Dr. Crooks flew across Canada in order to ride his bike for the cause, and he will end up back in his home town.
 

Derek Whitbread is a bicycle mechanic who works at Chain Reaction Bicycles in Toronto. He was granted leave from his job to travel with the SNKCR bikers to service and maintain their bicycles on this journey.
Being ridden up to 300 kilometres per day puts a lot of wear and tear on the bikes…so Derek was travelling with tools and parts to fix nearly any mechanical issues that might arise and so kept the bikers rolling along!
 

The riders were from all over Canada, and represented many different fields and careers. But they all shared this passionate and total commitment to helping kids with cancer.
You may make a personal donation to the cause at SNKCR