The Comox Valley Cyclepaths are sending a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the community.
The team raised over $71,465 for Comox Valley Hospice during the Cycle of Life Tour.
It’s an annual cycling fundraiser for hospice care on Vancouver Island.
During this year’s virtual event, riders were invited to participate in a variety of fun cycling challenges, leading up to the self-directed ride challenge on July 24th.
For Cyclepaths team captain, Raida Bolton, the cause is close to her heart.
“My dad spent his final weeks in the care of Comox Valley Hospice at the Views and they were exceptionally supportive and comforting in a really challenging time and then as a team, again, we lost a rider early last year, so Margaret Lam was on our team in 2019 and was a really big part of our team,” Bolton said.
Bolton says the money raised will go to Comox Valley Hospice’s operating budget, which is largely dependent on donations.
“That covers end-of-life care for a person, it covers grief counselling for their families, it covers help for their caregivers and support for their loved ones, and I think a lot of people don’t really understand the extra little arms that the Comox Valley Hospice has out in the community when it comes to grief counselling and support to families and loved ones.”
All tolled, 11 teams made up of 125 riders raised funds for hospices across Vancouver Island.
The team, which includes a hospice care nurse at the Views, covered 55 kilometres on the roads of the Comox Valley, starting with an RCMP escort through the streets of Comox.
They went on to a “cookie stop” at Gather Farm & Kitchen, followed by an emotional stop at Comox Valley Hospice at the Views.
They capped the day off with a ride to Church St. Taphouse and then a traditional dip in the ocean.
The Cyclepaths was this year’s top Cycle of Life Tour fundraising team.
The Campbell River Soul Cyclers raised over $27,000 for the Campbell River Hospice Society.
For more on the tour, click here.
