The Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock has been touring across Vancouver Island in small groups, fundraising for the Canadian Cancer Society. (Jon De Roo/97.3 The Eagle)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

JUST KEEP RIDING

Modified Tour de Rock rolls through Nanaimo

Sep 27, 2020 | 7:36 AM

NANAIMO — It might look a little bit different this year, but the goal of the Tour de Rock remains as important as ever.

A small group of riders will tour through Nanaimo on Sunday, Sep. 27 in a bid to continue the legacy of the ride which has raised over $26 million towards pediatric cancer care.

Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Shane Coubrough is one of the alumni riders suiting up again this year. He said the tour is ingrained on Vancouver Island.

“I’ve known the Tour de Rock since I was in my early 20’s. My dad passed away from cancer, a close friend of mine passed away in the year I rode. It’s always been a goal to come back to Vancouver Island as a member and be able to ride in the Tour de Rock…to be able to do it twice is amazing.”

Coubrough originally rode during the 2018 Tour de Rock.

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In lieu of a massive convey down the length of Vancouver Island with the same group of riders and support staff, the tour has been split into different legs with local teams.

Riders ventured through Parksville and Qualicum on Friday, Sep. 25 before crossing the Island to visit Port Alberni, Ucluelet and Tofino on Saturday.

Following the Nanaimo ride on Sunday, different teams will navigate the streets of Ladysmith, Duncan, Langford and Sidney before wrapping in Victoria on Friday, Oct. 2.

“It’s 2020 and it’s such a unique year itself and I know the tour is so drastically different today. I expect it to be significantly different because we won’t have that close contact with the kids at the schools,” Coubrough said.

Simon Douthwaite was a guest rider during the 2019 Tour de Rock. His nine-year-old daughter Chelsea is a cancer survivor after undergoing three years of chemo treatment between the ages of three and six.

He said the COVID-impacted ride resonates with him.

“I can well understand, during that time when you’re a parent of a child who’s immunocompromised…you’re scared of coughs, colds and sneezes. For our family and many others, we’re very aware that COVID’s a very difficult time, cancer doesn’t go away.”

Tour de Rock typically raises between $1.2-1.4 million each year, however the fundraising goal for 2020 is $600,000.

Donations can be made online through the Tour de Rock website.

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