When we decided to ride in the Tour for Kids, neither of us really totally understood what we were getting into.  We knew it was four days of riding some of which would be over some challenging terrain, we knew it was for a good cause, but we didn’t know how important this ride and the funds raised are for kids with cancer and their families.  Each of the four days we heard from families touched by childhood cancer and how important the camps and their programs were to them.  We heard how important the mental health is of children undergoing treatment as well as their parents and siblings and how important it is to surviving and beating cancer.  We learned about the various programs that each of the three Ontario camps conducts and their role at various stages of cancer treatment including living beyond cancer and returning to everyday life.  We definitely know now what it means to “Ride Somewhere Meaningful”.

The riding itself was fantastic despite a bit of wet weather.  Stephen rode with the 200 km/day group while Andrea was sufficiently challenged by the 100 km/day rides.  Over the four days, Stephen rode 785 km and Andrea rode 433 km.  Being in the longer distance group, Stephen met some very accomplished and strong riders who have undertaken challenges such as the Race Across America and the Sears National Cancer Ride.  Andrea’s group may have been a bit slower and had shorter distances, but the riders were still a great group of people to ride with.  She was privileged to ride with two childhood cancer survivors who could certainly hold their own on a bike and were a constant reminder of why we were there. 

A common theme over the weekend was strangers helping strangers.  This was evident on the road since many of us had never met, but we were all very supportive of each other which made for a wonderful cycling environment.  Off the road, there was a team of volunteers behind the scenes making sure that all of the riders were well taken care of from luggage transport to meals to bandages.  Also off the road are all of the children and their families that will benefit from the over $1.2 million that was raised that most riders will never meet. 

We are thrilled to have been a part of such a great event for such a worthy cause.  We are so grateful to all of our friends and family who sponsored us for this ride.  100% of the money you donated will go to research, education and survivorship programs, paediatric oncology centres, paediatric oncology camps and much needed family support.  We are also grateful to the Deslauriers family who took care of our dogs so we could participate in this ride.  We are already looking forward to once again “Ride Somewhere Meaningful” with Tour for Kids in 2011.

Thank you,

Andrea & Stephen

PS      There are a few photos and our ride routes posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrea_fj/sets/72157624790146284/.  Stephen wasn’t able to take his usual collection of photos since he was working too hard on the bike…