Ride to Conquer Cancer

Source: The Ride to Conquer Cancer Vancouver

Some of you may be thinking what is the Ride to Conquer Cancer?

The Ride to Conquer Cancer is a unique, two-day cycling event to take place on June 20-21, 2009. During this bold cycling journey, you will ride from Vancouver to Seattle. The Ride to Conquer Cancer is a new endeavour to do just that - conquer cancer. The funds you raise through The Ride to Conquer Cancer will deliver breakthrough research, exemplary teaching, and compassionate care BC Cancer Foundation.Ride to Conquer Cancer Vancouver.

I have a friend doing this ride, and he is Paul Burnett. An employee at Norco Bikes. He does many good things for people, and me and I took it as a duty to make an article for him to inform people of what he is doing and hopefully help him raise money for this very good cause and maybe even reach his goal of $3,200 or even $2,500 just so he can ride.

Here is why Paul is doing the ride:

I met Geoff Kane thanks to my fiancé Cathy Kane in the early Fall of 2006. I had just started to date his daughter Cathy and the plan was to meet her Father for the first time at a casino night fund raiser for the Lymphoma Society that he had arranged in South Surrey. My first meeting was quick but I could tell from the first handshake that I was privileged to meet someone like him. I don't know how much was raised that night but I can ensure you it was a lot.

The next time I met Geoff it was at his house in Surrey on a Sunday in the Fall, football season. I was invited in with a handshake and taken to the living room where there was a big screen TV with hi-definition football being broadcast, plus a cold beer to boot! I knew we were going to get along. We had a great day and as we were getting ready to leave I extended my hand to Geoff but instead I got a great big,"you're okay in my book", hug. This all cemented the fact that I thought Cathy was the one for me. She is smart, funny, beautiful, plus now I learned that she had a great family, too good to be true huh? Not bad for a bike bum like me.

Over the next few months we visited Geoff on and off when he was in town from Pender Island. We watched football mainly as his health was deteriorating, he had been battling Lymphoma for about six years up to that point. Christmas came along where I got to see a grandfather have a first Christmas with his Grandson, Cathy's nephew Baden. This was something that I could relate to as I wanted to see my own Father celebrate a first Christmas with his Grandchild sometime in the future. I had a feeling at the time that this was my only opportunity to witness something like this as my Father was terminally ill with a form of Parkinson's called Multiple Systems Atrophy.

I was looking forward to the chance that our father's would get to meet and have a beer or two together. Sadly on February 18 2007, Geoff Kane lost the battle with Lymphoma. I only knew him six months but his effect on me will last a lifetime. My own Father Harry Burnett passed away as well on July 6th, 2008 from complications due to MSA. I know the two of them are having a beer somewhere, cheers fellas.

I am doing this ride because I want to continue on what Geoff had started and use my strengths to accomplish this goal. I am doing this for my Father, though he did not die from cancer the research involved is headed in the direction to solve all of these types of terminal diseases.

Geoff Kane raised money for cancer research when he was here, my Father did his best, with my Mother's help, to raise money for Parkinson's research. They did this for a chance to survive through their illnesses. Though they were taken away from us I want to continue what they had started. Riding bikes is is a major part of my life so this is the best way for me to contribute and hopefully inspire others to do their part and give to a cause that might give someone out there a chance to survive.

Thanks for your support.

Feeling like giving, then support Paul here! This is Paul's Ride to Conquer Cancer page.

-Dotca/Ryan