A last look - deep thoughts by Liesl

WOW - what a journey! I am so proud to have been involved in the Cops for Cancer Tour de North 2011 - inaugural North to South route!

As Tour riders we raise a minimum amount of $2500 per rider and $5000 for our civilian rider. A good portion of Northern BC has not had the greatest economic times of late but as is usual with small Northern BC towns - they come together for a great cause and reveal the true human spirit that Northern BC is known for by rallying together behind those local riders and helping support their efforts - to all Northern BC'ers THANK YOU!

I have met some amazing people this week - all coming together to support a common goal - a desire to help kids, specifically kids battling cancer. Inspiring stories from cancer survivors and their families kept us fueled for the cause - some had attended Camp Goodtimes and simply stated "it is better than Disneyland!" Of those that spoke at our events - THANK YOU for sharing you stories - Trent and Nakisha-Fort St John, Lauren-Dawson Creek, Jameson and Hannah-Prince George, Emily and Dylan-Quesnel, Nick-Williams Lake - child cancer survivors of various ages who are all inspiring individuals!

Meeting these kids, these mini warriors, these strong souls - rocked me to the core and made me feel like I was really making a difference. A good friend of mine has had her family 'touched' by a child with cancer and I have felt so incredibly helpless watching them go through what they have had to endure the last couple of years. I sometimes have trouble expressing feelings that affect me so deeply and turn to alternative ways in which I feel like I can help - help in a way that is constructive and uplifting. Tour de North has done that for me this year and I write this last blog with tears rolling down my face, thinking of all the kids that I have met this week.....

This last week has not only been incredibly inspiring but also very fun - the riders on Tour this year were a dedicated bunch and it was so great to meet them and get to know them this week. Their personal dedication to fund raising for pediatric cancer causes was phenomenal but also just as important was their dedication to train the last 5 months in order to complete this ride safely and without injury and live up to their end of the bargain they made to their supporters by completing the challenging bike route.

They all poked fun at my aversion to 'hugging' but what they didn't know is that I do hug - when I get to know you and like you the hugs come freely and I am pretty sure I eventually ended up hugging everyone - if I missed anyone I apologize as I was 'hugging' in my heart! You are all worthy of hugging in my books - your all good peeps!

It was an incredible experience and would not have been as successful if it wasn't for great community support and the fantastic support crew we had all week! Thanks everyone and hoping to see Tour de North inspire many more people in the years to come!

Great people can accomplish great things! and ..... every day should start with "IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY!"

please stay tuned early next week for some more photos to be posted.



over and out...