If it werent for years of research into childhood leukemia, Carol de Haas believes her daughter Michelle wouldnt be here today.
Thats why the local mom is so passionate about organizing the Richmond Community Dinner in support of Cops for Cancer 2011 Tour de Coast, to be held tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 28.
If Michelle had been diagnosed 20 years earlier, it would have meant death within a few months 85 per cent of kids passed away from leukemia. Now it's 85 per cent survival, said de Haas.
Today, Michelle is 18, attending Langara College and still involved in the Cops for Cancer fundraising efforts. She has been cancer-free for more than a decade now.
Michelle is doing great and thats my motivation for getting involved in organizing the local fundraiser, said de Haas.
The News first interviewed the McMath secondary graduate back in 2005. At the time, Michelle was 11 and was a buddy for local Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast RCMP cyclist, Anne Chapelle.
Michelle has been involved for eight years and was a buddy to a cyclist for many years, added de Haas.
Richmonds Allen Pruden is team captain of the Cops for Cancer riders. The 43-year-old became involved more than seven years ago as a medic on the tour.
BC Ambulance has supported Cops for Cancer for years and when they asked me to take part on the support team, I said great, Pruden said.
In 2007, Pruden asked if paramedics could ride. Initially, the RCMP werent too keen on the idea, he said. But the following year, paramedics were invited to join them on the ride.
That first year, myself and another paramedic rode.
Now, we have seven paramedics who take part in the cycle.
When the News reached Pruden on Monday, he and the riders had already clocked more than 500 kilometres.
The greatest challenge has been the weather. However, Pruden is quick to add that its nothing compared to what the children fighting cancer endure.
Sunday, we were riding uphill in the pouring rain, everyones tired and a little sore but no one is complaining everyone was in great spirit, because we know who we are riding for.
The kids show such great courage in spite of great pain and we keep that in mind when we cycle.
When it comes to the Richmond Community Dinner, Pruden said: Its a great way to end the tour.
Its such a fantastic event and Carol really does a great job, he added.
For the past five years, de Haas and a team of dedicated volunteers have been hosting fundraising events. The inaugural soiree in 2007 was a Hawaiian luau held at Richmonds St. Joseph the Worker church hall.
We have had different themes over the years, including a New Orleans-style Mardi Gras, said de Haas. This year is our fifth fundraiser and its become a real big community event with lots of public involvement.
We reached out to the community at large and its truly amazing how its become an event for everyone.
Last years community dinner raised more than $12,000.
My dream is that the event will take a life of its own and get bigger and better every year, said de Haas. So far, we have sold 250 tickets.
Besides raising much-needed funds to fight pediatric cancer, the tour, as well as the fundraising event, also supports Camp Goodtimes and the Canadian Cancer Society volunteer drivers, who transport kids to and from their cancer treatments. It also provides emergency financial aide for families dealing with cancer.
So far, donations to the Cops for Cancer 2011 Tour de Coast Greater Vancouver sit at more than $244,000. The cops began their cycling journey on September 21 and end on the 29 in Vancouvers Yaletown.
The Richmond Community Dinner happens tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the riverside Banquet Hall, 1231 Berdette St. (Dinner at 6:45 p.m.). Tickets are $50, which includes dinner, live music by Thunder Road Live, a Bruce Springsteen review band, prizes and a special appearance by all 29 team members of the Cancer Tour de Coast team. For more information or to donate, visit www.copsforcancerbc.ca.
