By Dominic Abassi

Nanaimo Mounties motivated by lost family members for 2017 Tour de Rock

May 13, 2017 | 1:33 PM

NANAIMO — Two Nanaimo Mounties will join a movement which collectively has travelled half way around the world to help children battling cancer.

Last week, Nanaimo RCMP officers Samantha Caram and Kevin Flood were unveiled as part of the 24-member 2017 Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team.

For Caram, her motivations are clear.

“My parents are both cancer survivors and my mother-in-law lost her life to cancer in 2012 so I remember how helpless I felt when they were experiencing this disease. I would like to help and this is my way of giving back,” she said.

Heading into its 20th year, the Tour has raised more than $22 million to help kids with cancer. Money raised sends children fighting the disease to Camp Goodtimes. Nearly 9,000 children have benefitted over the past two decades.

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As part of the anniversary year, special guest riders will include paramedics, firefighters and community members.

Lindy Skutnik, a Realtor from Ladysmith, will also tackle the gruelling 1,100 km bike ride from Port Alice to Victoria beginning Sept. 23.

There’s months of rigorous training ahead for the riders between now and then. Caram said she has been pushed to her limits already several times on training rides. Perhaps the most infamous practice day is when the team ascends Mt. Washington.

Flood said the drive behind his decision to ride began 10 years ago while he was serving an RCMP posting in a remote northern community.

“My cousin’s son lost his battle to cancer at five and it was really hard to watch the family go through that and I was so far away and so far removed, so this is kind of my way of giving back,” Flood said.

In 2016, Nanaimo RCMP Sgt. Donovan Tait took part in the ride. He was joined by Daryl Major from 102.3 The Wave’s morning show. Last year’s event raised $1.3 million.

To see the full team, learn more and to donate, visit the Tour de Rock website.

dominic.abassi@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @domabassi