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Enough stuff already, help fight cancer instead

If there's one thing that can alleviate the stress that comes with gift buying at Christmas, it's a little dose of perspective.
ride to conquer
Garth McFadden, left, with brother-in-law Paul Bannon, who passed away from brain cancer last year.

If there's one thing that can alleviate the stress that comes with gift buying at Christmas, it's a little dose of perspective.

While some of us are sweating over that thoughtful present for a loved one, friend or even your boss, it might be worth remembering there's more to life than material

possessions.

One charity - Ride to Conquer Cancer - is asking for you to ponder that thought and wants you to consider them this Christmas when it comes to putting presents under the tree or into the secret Santa hat at work. And one of the ride's participants, Richmond's Garth McFadden, would love people to think of the gift of donation this Christmas.

"It's about giving back and it's thinking about the kids as well," said McFadden, a corporate sales executive who lives in the Shell and Williams roads area.

"How about helping to make a world free of cancer by making a donation and by giving a gift that's going to make a difference." Any kind of donation would be very much appreciated by McFadden, who got involved in the Ride to Conquer Cancer - a two-day, 250-kilometre cycle from Vancouver to Seattle - this year

after losing his brother-in-law, Paul Bannon, to cancer in 2012 at the age of 56.

"He died from brain cancer in July 2012 and he only found out a month before that there was a problem," said McFadden. "He was one of the most healthy guys you could meet. My sister was so touched when I told her I was taking part in the ride this year that she went out and bought a bike and began cycling for the first time in 20 years.

"She got into training for the ride and flew over from Ontario and did the event with me."

McFadden has cycled more than 2,000 kilometres this year and took part in the 2013 event as part of the "Brainiacs" team, as he will in the 2014 event.