Randy’s Riders are preparing to once again climb on their bikes to help conquer cancer.
The Cold Lake cyclist group has been hard at work training and fundraising for the 11th annual Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer, which will be taking place in Calgary on Aug. 17 and 18.
Thomas Curry, Randy’s Riders team captain, noted group members cycle up to 80-kilometres throughout the summer to prepare for the 200-kilometre trek.
This will be the team’s seventh year taking part in the ride, and they have 14 riders coming together at the event.
“We’re always looking for participants,” Curry noted. “Anybody can sign up and join our team.”
So far, they have raised approximately $28,000 of their $45,000 goal.
This is Curry’s fourth year riding, and his second time at the helm of the team. As a cancer survivor himself, he was approached by members of Randy’s Riders four years ago but didn’t feel ready for a few years. When he finally did sign up, he said there’s no turning back and described the experience as emotional and overwhelming.
“You look at the people going through, and the personal experiences of friends, family, and in my case, myself, you look at the support this rides gives you and how fellow riders that you don’t even know support you as you’re riding along. They support you to climb those hills, and to get back on the bike when you’re taking a break and they really push you,” he detailed. “You realize you’re doing this for a couple of days, and it can be painful, but it’s nothing compared to what people are going through when they’re dealing with cancer.”
It’s that feeling of camaraderie that keeps Terry Densmore, member of Randy’s Riders, coming back year after year.
“The group is very supportive of each other, even if you’ve never seen them before or met them. Everybody is really pumped and positive thinking, so it’s quite nice actually and a good boost,” he said.
Densmore joins Curry in tying a yellow flag to his bike during the ride to signify they’re cancer survivors.
Randy’s Riders was started as a tribute to Randy Imrie, who lost his battle with cancer in 2012. Sherry, his wife, approached former team captain Darrell MacDonald about organizing a group to honour his memory, and they decided to put a team together for the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer. Since they began, Randy’s Riders has raised approximately $400,000 for Enbridge’s Ride to Conquer Cancer.
“I didn’t know Randy myself, but the story that I heard about him makes me very proud to be captain and a participant of Randy’s Riders,” Curry said.
To donate to Randy’s Riders, or to get more information about the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer, ride.conquercancer.ca/alberta.
