A group of Richmond teachers will host a bike ride next week in memory of two colleagues who were well-respected educators and cycle enthusiasts, in a bid to raise money for school scholarships.
“They were both extremely caring, professional people. They worked really hard trying to do the best thing for kids,” said Jason Leslie, one of the organisers and the principal of McNair secondary.
Targett Ng, vice principal at Quilchena elementary at the time, was killed in a bicycle accident on his way to work in 2008. Three years later, Lorne Bodin, a soon-to-be principal of Matthew, died after a fight with stomach cancer.
“We want to remember those guys, to lead our own lives in a way that they led and to raise money to help kids. That’s something both Targett and Lorne would have been fond of,” said Leslie.
Several friends started riding in the BC Ride to Conquer Cancer in honour of them. They then decided to do something local and started the annual ride around Richmond in 2012.
Each year, around 100 bikers participated and helped raise funds for four $500 scholarships in schools Ng and Bodin were part of such as McNair, Palmer, Burnett and McRoberts, according to Leslie.
This year’s ride will start at Burnett at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 26. The trip goes down Railway Ave. to Moncton Rd., continues on Dyke Road and reaches No.5 Road then comes back – 26 kilometres in total.
Anyone over 19 is welcome to attend. The cost is $30 including a barbecue afterwards. All money raised goes towards the Richmond District Scholarship fund.
