A Terrace Conservation Officer is the first in B.C. to join the Cops for Cancer bicycling Tour de North.
CO Ryan Gordon is from Ontario and has been a conservation officer in B.C. for five years.
He and his wife Hanna and Golden Retriever Kona have lived in Terrace three and a half years.
At 31 years, Gordon is an avid outdoorsman and cyclist who has done competitive mountain bike races for 15 years.
Now he bikes for fun, and also enjoys snowboarding, fishing, hunting, hiking and camping.
Gordon says he joined Tour de North as an opportunity to give back to the community.
This is the first year the Canadian Cancer Society invited Conservation Services to join Tour de North, said Erin Reynolds, Community Giving Coordinator for Cops for Cancer.
“We are diversifying the team to enhance the camaraderie experience for more of the emergency services groups in the north,” she said.
“Through this experience we also increase the outreach, awareness, and fundraising to help kids with cancer and their families.”
Tour de North is an annual campaign where a variety of emergency services bike across different sections of northern B.C. to raise money for pediatric cancer research and support programs.
This year, the team includes Gordon and 17 other cyclists from across northern B.C., including RCMP and corrections officers, paramedics, and community members.
Cycling 70 to 195 kilometres a day, they will take a week to travel from Dawson Creek to Williams Lake.
They start the trip off September 15, stopping at various communities for barbecues and overnight stays.
The Tour de North goal this year is to raise $350,000. Of the money raised, 80 per cent goes to paediatric cancer research, and 20 per cent to Camp Goodtimes, a week-long camp in Maple Ridge for kids battling cancer and their families.
“I believe in that cause,” said Gordon.
“It’s nice to give these kids an opportunity to go outdoors and go fishing and swimming and experience what nature has to offer.”
Gordon has raised $3,000 so far and his goal is $7,000.
He is selling raffle tickets with prizes including Hawkair flights, a guided angler trip and accommodations from the Pioneer Lodge, and a T.V. from Canadian Tire.
There will also be a fund raising barbecue at Canadian Tire.