The Tour de Rock might not be until September, but the journey has already begun.
About two dozen police officers and three members of the media have been training since the beginning of March, hoping to be named to Vancouver Island’s 2011 Cops For Cancer team.
Not all will be there when the team is revealed May 14. Some applicants find the ride isn’t for them, the physical and emotional demands too daunting, the time commitment too great. Some fall victim to the numbers game; riders have been known to slog through spring training three years in a row before making the team.
Those who remain will face thousands of kilometres of training — hills on Tuesday nights, speed work Thursdays, distance on Sundays — in the most exhausting and enriching year of their lives.
Please join this year’s riders when they are presented to the public for the first time at 1 p.m. May 14 at the Royal B.C. Museum.
And keep an eye on this site for details on how you, too, can join the cops and the Canadian Cancer Society in helping children with cancer. Cops for Cancer has a huge number of fun and fantastic events coming up. You’ll be able to find them on our list of upcoming fundraisers.
Serious Coffee Tour de Rock Fundraising Bean Drive
July 15 – October 7. Purchase a 1lb bag of the Rider’s Edition of Coal Miner’s Organic (dark roast) or Three Amigos (medium roast) and $2 will be donated toward supporting the Tour de Rock Rider’s fundraising goal.
Look for your favorite Rider’s picture on bags of Serious Coffee at all 26 Serious Coffee locations on Vancouver Island.
Darcy’s Pub – Caribbean Fish Tacos, Victoria
July 1-October 7. Head down to Darcy’s Pub for their delicious fish tacos. Two dollars from every order will be donated to Tour de Rock. www.darcyspub.ca.
Outdoor Addictions – Bike Sale/Tune-up Donation, Campbell River
Outdoor Addictions will be donating $5 from every bike sold and $1 from every bike tuned to the Tour de Rock!
Coast Capital Savings Raffle – Shelbourne Branch, Victoria
Four wonderful gift baskets are being put up for raffle at the Coast Capital Saving’s, on Shelbourne, to benefit Tour de Rock! Tickets can be purchased, 1 for $3 or 6 for $10, at the branch from now until October 5th with the raffle taking place on October the 6th.
Here are the prizes up for grabs!
Active Living Gift Basket – $1,959 value
Health and Wellness Gift Basket – $1,207 value
Tourist Gift Basket – $1,117 value
Earl’s Gift Certificate – $1,000
Coast Capital Savings Book Sale – The Bay Centre, Victoria
The Coast Capital Savings in the Bay Centre is holding a used book sale with $2 from every purchase being donated towards the Tour de Rock. Come out and treat yourself to a new book and don’t forget any old books that you no longer want so they can keep this sale alive
Coast Capital Savings Silent Auction – Sooke Branch, Sooke
The Coast Capital Savings, in Sooke, is holding a silent auction from September 24 – October 7th. Bidding for this auction will close at 5:30pm on October 7th.
Thrifty Foods – Donation Days, Vancouver Island
From now until October 4th all of the Thrifty Foods will be donating 50 cents from every marked product to the Tour de Rock! So make sure to keep an eye out for those specially marked items.
49th Parallel Grocery – Garage Sale, Chemainus
49th Parallel Grocery is holding an ongoing garage sale that will continue all year long, during store hours, to benefit the Tour de Rock!
Monday October 3 – RCMP Red Serge Roast Beef Dinner, Ladysmith
The Eagles Hall will be hosting a Red Serge dinner for the Tour de Rock riders during their visit to Ladysmith. A delicious roast beef dinner with all the trimmings will be served at 7:00pm, with doors for this event opening at 6:00pm. Piping in and introduction of riders will occur as well as a 50/50 raffle and live & silent auctions. Tickets can be purchased at the Canadian Cancer Society or the Eagles Hall.
Tuesday October 4 – Tour de Rock Breakfast, Chemainus
Join in the excitement at the Chemainus Legion during a breakfast to benefit the Tour de Rock! Come out in the morning at 7:30am for a breakfast and witness the presentation of fundraising donations. Tickets are $15 and will be available September 1st.
Tuesday October 4 – Red Serge Dinner, Duncan
Coast Capital Savings presents a Red Serge Dinner to benefit the Tour de Rock! This dinner will be taking place at Mr. Mikes Steakhouse & Bar, 101-2755 Beverly Street, and will begin at 6:00pm. In addition to the fabulous dinner provided there will also be live and silent auctions. Tickets for this event cost $40 and can be purchased at Coast Capital Savings Beverly Corners, the Community Policing Station, the local detachment of the RCMP and Mr. Mikes.
Wednesday October 5 – Tour de Rock Day Westshore, Victoria
Come out to the Westshore Town Centre to take part in this day dedicated to the Tour de Rock! This event will run from 1:30-6:00pm, so come join the team and take part in some family fun! There will be face-painting and a bouncy castle on-site for the kids.
Thursday October 6 – Tour de Rock Day, Sidney
Sidney welcomes the Tour de Rock team, in Beacon Park, as they roll into town! This event will run from 11:00-4:00pm and there will be a BBQ, doughnuts, headshaves along with T-shirts for sale!
Friday October 7 – Tour Stop at the Esquimalt Plaza, Esquimalt
Cheer on the team as they make a stop at the Esquimalt Plaza, between 9:15 – 10:00am, before they move their way to the Coast Capital Savings at the Tillicum Mall for 10:10am. Come on out and show your support!
Friday October 7 – Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock Finale, Spirit Square, Victoria – 5pm to 7pm
Celebrate the successes of the 2011 Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer with the Tour de Rock Team as they finish their 1000 km journey.
Further information to come.
Saturday October 22 – RCMP Red Serge Pasta Dinner Halloween Family Fun, Campbell River
The Fraternal Order of Eagles invites you to come down and enjoy a pasta dinner along with some Halloween fun! Doors to this event open at 5pm and tickets will be available in September. Contact Jacqui Harrison for more information at 250-203-1254.
Alberni Towing
Donates $50 to Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock for every scrap vehicle received from now to end of October.
Duffy the Dragon at Camp Goodtimes
Written and produced by Vancouver Island author, Kate Noble, to support the Tour de Rock. Illustrated in full colour, written in rhyming verse with a heart warming story of a child’s dream to go to Camp Goodtimes.
Purchase for yourself or sell as a fundraiser for Tour de Rock.
For further information: duffyhousepublishing@gmail.com or visit www.duffythedragon.com
To add an event or fundraiser to this Calendar
Email cdsmith@bc.cancer.ca
Tour de Rock 2011 Team
Mary Brigham – CFB Esquimalt
Chris Bush – Black Press
Rochelle Carr – Oceanside RCMP
Manon Chouinard – RCMP Regional
Jarrod Christison – Oak Bay Police
Alvin Deo – Victoria Police
Rod Fraser – Westshore RCMP
Tom Gill – Port Alberni RCMP
Scott Green – Saanich Police
Shawn Hall – Campbell River RCMP
Louise Hartland – A Vancouver Island
Andrew Harward – Saanich Police
Sandra Holman – Nanaimo RCMP
Brittany King – KOOL FM
Mike Massine – Victoria Police
James Matsuda – Comox RCMP
Stephanie McFarlane – Saanich Police
Aaron Murray – Saanich Police
Bill Peppy – Oceanside RCMP
Steve Robinson – Saanich Police
Sandi Swanson – RCMP Regional
Steve Trevor – Comox RCMP
Community Dates
Saturday September 24: Port Alice
Sunday September 25: Port Hardy and Port McNeill
Monday September 26: Woss and Sayward
Tuesday September 27: Campbell River
Wednesday September 28: Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland
Thursday September 29: Union Bay, Qualicum and Parksville
Friday September 30: Port Alberni
Saturday October 1: Tofino and Ucluelet
Sunday October 2: Nanaimo
Monday October 3: Ladysmith and Chemainus
Tuesday October 4: Lake Cowichan and Duncan
Wednesday October 5: Shawnigan Lake, Mill Bay, Sooke, Westshore
Thursday October 6: Oak Bay, Victoria and Sidney
Friday October 7: Esquimalt, Saanich and Spirit Square Finale