The Tour De Rock Riders got a warm welcome at a local school on the way to Courtenay today.
The riders pedaled from Campbell River to Courtenay, stopping by Miracle Beach Elementary in Black Creek.
The principal, Zale Darnel, says the students performed a song and a dance, which is an annual tradition during the Tour De Rock.
“We had all of our 260 students and 32 staff in the gym, as well as some parents and the school did a full song and dance and really showed some positive support for Tour De Rock,” said Darnel.
He says the students also collected donations for cancer research in an initiative called Change for Change, raising over $1,500 for the cause today.
Darnel says everyone at some point has been touched by cancer.
“For a number of our kids, we go out and do our Terry Fox Run and they write who they’re running for, and many know somebody who have been impacted by this, and many of our staff know or have been impacted so it’s close to home for a lot of people,” said Darnel.
“Because there’s such a deep care, it’s easy for us to come together as a community and raise funds for such a good cause.”
For Nicholas Arnold of Vista Radio and Constable Mary-Ellen Somerville of Sooke RCMP, the song and dance were great.
“They were dancing, singing, they had choreography, and it was the most amazing thing to watch, and it was all in support of what we’re doing,” said Somerville.
“We pulled up into the parking lot and we could already hear them cheering from inside the gym, and we walked in with our bikes, and they were losing their minds, it was incredible,” said Arnold.
Somerville says many people cheered the riders on the roads, honking in their vehicles to show support, with Arnold adding this event is something communities on Vancouver Island should hold on to.
The riders will stay in the Valley for today and tomorrow morning, making their way to Qualicum Beach.
As of today, they have raised $318,456.26 for the cause. To donate, click here.
