A Richmond resident will cycle for 100 kilometres in sizzling hot weather in August to honour her father's life and raise money for a good cause.
In 2017, Andrea Lee's life changed forever when her beloved dad, Martin Lee, passed away from cancer on her 33rd birthday.
On Aug. 27, she will ride in his memory as part of the BC Cancer Foundation's Tour de Cure - B.C.'s biggest cycling fundraiser, which will take place in Chilliwack to raise awareness and funds to support local cancer research.
"(My dad) played every sport imaginable and was the captain of multiple teams at his high school (McRoberts secondary). And then when he had kids, he coached my brothers in all of their sports," said Lee. "He was a huge athlete."
However, Martin was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer two weeks before Christmas.
Thinking her father had always been so strong and able to fight against anything throughout his life, Lee and her family members were clinging to the hope that "he would be fine."
Unfortunately, his health declined very fast and three months later, he passed away on Lee's birthday.
Lee said she bought herself a really expensive bike right away when her dad passed away and then signed up for the charity cycle.
"BC Cancer was where my dad spent the last two weeks of his life, and they were just the absolute best care I could imagine for him. Every person we met there was wonderful, so I'll do whatever I can to raise money for them," said Lee.
Lee's fundraising goal for this year's Tour de Cure will be $2,500.
Lindsay Carswell, director for Tour de Cure, said this annual event used to attract thousands of participants before the pandemic.
Participants will have the option to ride wherever and as far as they want and they can also create their challenges by riding where they are most comfortable, said Carswell, noting that all donations will be used for vital cancer research.
For more information, visit https://tourdecure.ca/.
