Riders on the 11th annual Military Police National Motorcycle Relay (MPNMR) made a quick pit-stop in Cold Lake.
The group was at 4 Wing on Saturday, Aug. 3 as they finished the Alberta leg of their journey.
The coast-to-coast ride raises money for the Military Police Fund for Blind Children (MPFBC), which is the only recognized charity of the Canadian Forces.
Since the MPFBC was founded in 1957, active and former military police have volunteered their time to raise funds for children that are visually impaired.
Starting in Victoria, B.C. on July 27, the riders are expected to arrive on the east coast on Aug. 22, where they’ll end the trip in St. John’s, N.L.
Participants visit numerous Canadian Forces communities along the way, spreading the word about the MPFBC.
“There’s a lot of children out there with visual impairments, and their families just don’t know about our charity,” explained rider Alex Millham, from Comox, B.C. “That seems to be one of our biggest obstacles, just reaching out and finding the individuals.”
While visiting Cold Lake, the group spent an afternoon taking part in the local military police’s MPFBC fundraiser golf tournament at the Grand Centre Golf Course.
Sgt. Roderick Hickey, who organized the local golf tournament, said it was important to honour the riders when they came into town.
“They’re all active or retired military members, or their spouses are. They want to continue with the legacy for the MPFBC, so we want to support them,” he continued.
Lt. Mary-Anne Saciuk, Officer Commanding 11 Military Police Flight in Cold Lake, added, “The MPFBC is a volunteer-run (charity) by military police, and it’s a fundraiser that was started from a military police officer back in the day. As such, it’s good to keep that culture and tradition throughout the years… It’s good to celebrate them and help them through their trek across the country.”
For Millham, he appreciates the lengths each community goes to show their support, but the stop in Cold Lake had a personal connection.
“It’s really great to be welcomed into a new place, especially one I haven’t been to in a while. I was actually born in Cold Lake. It’s nice to arrive, have a meal ready for us, and feel welcome.”
As the sole participant making the over 10,000-kilometre drive this year, along with morale officer and mascot, Officer Cadet Moira Stone, Millham will be on the road for roughly a month.
While it’s a military-based charity, everyone is welcome to join. This year, about 300 current and retired military members and civilians are taking part throughout this year’s trek.
What began as a way to connect with fellow riders has turned into a lot more for Millham.
“When I met the people involved, they just really inspired me to get more involved and help out to participate more.”
Col. James Riley Stone started the MPFBC in 1957 after his daughter, Moira, went through treatment for retinoblastoma, a genetically-linked cancer of the retina. After seeing organizations struggling to help visually impaired children, he started a fund to raise money for those who needed assistance.
Since 2009, the MPFBC has raised over $600,000.
