More than 1,600 cyclists made their way through Calgary streets, and highways south of the city, for Saturday’s fifth annual Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer fundraiser.
June’s record flooding forced organizers to switch the date for the two-day ride which will see participants cycling a distance of 200 kilometres between Calgary and Okotoks and back to Calgary.
Brian Medieta, a cancer survivor, and his brother Mark Haldane are two of the riders who are cycling towards a cure.
“I went through six months of chemo,” says Medieta. “I got poisoned to the point I was hospitalized over Christmas.”
Mark Haldane says his brother’s perseverance during the cancer battle will inspire him throughout the weekend’s journey.
“I watched him go from a young man in the prime of his life to where he couldn’t get out of bed for two weeks,” says Haldane. “If he can do that, than this (the ride) is nothing.”
Funds raised in this weekend’s Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer will assist with cancer research in Alberta.
Recent studies predict 1 out of every 2 Albertans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and of those diagnosed, 1 in 4 will die from the disease.
This year, participants raised $7.8 million for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. In the last five years, more than $30 milion has been donated to cancer research.
With files from Kathy Le
