Cancer sucks, says Scott McDermott, which is why he biked for 16 hours from Kelowna to Vancouver.
McDermott took part in the Ride2Survive campaign on June 23 where he and many others took to the road on bicycles to raise money for cancer research.
This is the third year McDermott has taken part in the roughly 400 km bike ride.
“I want to be able to do something, to help in someway,” said McDermott. “I can ride a bike, so this is some way I can help.”
McDermott supports the Ride2Survive campaign because of its minimal administrative fees. The program is run by volunteers, which means 100 per cent of the money raised through the ride is donated straight to cancer research.
“If I’m supporting a charity I want to know my money is going to something good, not just lining some guys pockets,” said McDermott.
McDermott has been touched in his life by cancer, as so many other around the world have. He has had friends and family suffer through its effects and pass away all too young.
That is why he supports various charities for cancer research, another favourite being the Terry Fox Run.
However, McDermott says he got involved with Ride2Survive after the death of a close friend.
“He had told me about it and asked me to do it with him a number of times. There was always something in the way, always some reason not to do it that year,” he said.
“Then he was in an accident and he died,” McDermott said with tears in his eyes. “I told myself the next year I would do it, for him.”
McDermott says the kid through the mountains isn’t easy, and it is a long day on the bike.
The trek through the mountains to Vancouver has multiple stops, most of which are only 10 minutes long, which is enough time to eat something quickly and get some more water to drink.
By the time the group finishes the trek they are all tired and exhausted.
“It feels great to get off the bike, by that point your butt is hamburger.”
The entire trip is inspirational and emotional. Before the trip begins, before the sun even rises at 3 p.m., the group all get together and talk about their experiences.
McDermott says it is amazing to hear the stories of those who ride. Some are cancer survivors others have been touched by cancer through friends and family.
The best part of the tiring trip is knowing in some small way he is making a difference, McDermott says.
“The money goes directly towards research, which has helped so many,” he said. “Just look at Terry Fox, if he was diagnosed today he would have been cured.”
Each rider in the Ride2Survive campaign has to raise a minimum of $2,500 to participate - along with the fee, which is for the participant’s food and such during the trek.
McDermott was able to raise a little more than the minimum, and donated roughly $2,600 to cancer research.
“It isn’t easy,” McDermott said of the bike ride,” but then again neither is living with cancer.”
