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Nanaimo’s Tour de Rock riders earn their stripes

Sep 10, 2018 | 5:27 PM

NANAIMO — While the mix of red, green, blue and yellow might be categorized as a fashion faux pas, jerseys presented to two Nanaimo men represent a monumental milestone in an emotionally and physically exhausting journey.

Nanaimo’s two 2018 Tour de Rock team members, Cst. Shane Coubrough and auxiliary Cst. Trevor Nettleton, were presented with their official tour jerseys at an event in Victoria on Friday.

Being presented with an official jersey means the riders have proven their commitment and ability during thousands of kilometres of training rides. It also means they’ve pounded the pavement and raised thousands of dollars in their community to support pediatric cancer programs.

“We’ve come this far and put all the effort in…There’s these big milestones we all accomplish as a team and when we get to share in those experiences it really brings the whole thing together. Getting the jersey makes it real. You know this is it, you’ve done it, you’ve put your time in,” Nettleton told NanaimoNewsNOW during a phone call from Victoria.

Nettleton said while he knew training for the ride would be one of the biggest challenges of his life, he could have never anticipated what he was in for.

A gradual progression saw 60-kilometre rides considered challenging double, with normal training rides now topping 100 kilometres.

But if there are ever times when Nettleton feels like taking a day off training, motivation is easy to find in the form of his junior riders, 8-year-old Carson and 11-year-old Natalie.

“One of my junior riders battled cancer for two-and-a-half years…Every single day taking chemo. She didn’t have the luxury of saying ‘I don’t want to do my treatment today.’ For us, when it comes down to a tough ride we just realize we do have a choice and our choice is to do this for the kids. If they don’t have the luxury to choose whether to have this disease or not, then neither do we.”

Nettleton said Carson and Natalie are “amazing kids.”

“These are kids who are younger than my son. So to hear their stories and how they endured through this is motivating…It gives insight and perspective into what it is we’re riding for.”

The two also had some fun at Nettleton’s expense, recently shaving off not only the hair on his head, but also his eyebrows.

“I don’t know if I’m pulling it off,” he said laughing. “It’s growing back so I’m thankful. I was concerned it wouldn’t. The first couple of days I was watching them everyday but I’m starting to see eyebrow stubble so we’re okay.”

Nettleton said himself and his supporters have raised about $10,000 so far and hope to boost the number even further in the final weeks before the ride begins.

He, like Coubrough, both previously told NanaimoNewsNOW they were riding in part to honour loved ones who have battled cancer. Coubrough, a nine-year veteran of the RCMP, lost his father to cancer two years ago.

Well over $20 million has been raised for pediatric cancer programs and research during the previous 20 editions of the grueling 1,200-kilometre cycling tour spanning Vancouver Island from north-to-west-to-south.

About 30 communities will be visited this year between Sept. 22 and Oct. 5, including stops in Parksville, Nanaimo and Ladysmith.

You can learn more about the tour and donate here.

 

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi