13th
2009-06-13 Vancouver - It Begins…
Kitsilano Beach saw 36 unusual dippers today, 36 dippers wearing cycling gear, dipping their tires in the Pacific Ocean and toasting this defining moment for many. It defined a moment of beginning the ride across Canada to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer research and support.
We observed a few moments of silence after which we each wrote a message on a banner telling what we wanted to accompish over the next twelve days. I wrote, “We ride until…”
For the children with cancer this marks a moment when people they do not know continue to work on their behalf to improve the treatments, minimize the side effects of treatment, and one day eliminate cancer. One of my relatives, Nancy met us there. We see each other seldom, so it was nice to reconnect at this very powerful moment. We parted with a hug and tears.
We rode as a large group of 36 riders and the founder of Coast to Coast Against cancer and our leader (he prefers to be called “an enthusiastic volunteer”), Jeff Rushton. We visited A couple of Sears stores in Vancouver, Coquitlam, and Abbotsford, before setting out in our individual teams.
The early kilometers were a little rough as we learned how each other worked. Even so, we clipped along at 30-45 km through gently rolling hillets. After supper we really started to gel, riding in tighter formations, trusting each other’s movements, and helping each other to succeed. Very early on, we agreed that no one can go faster than the slowest person, so we would work so that there was no slow person, only a fast, strong team. It isn’t about the Ride… it’s about working as a team to help the kids and their families.
