Fundraising for this year's Tour de Rock got off to a swinging start Saturday at Seven Hills Golf and Country Club.
The Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock raises money for pediatric
cancer research each year by cycling from Port Alice to Victoria, traveling a distance of more than 1,000 km. Since 1998 the annual RCMP-hosted event has raised over $16 million for the cancer charity.
Seven Hills saw a field of 48 golfers take to the course for the second annual North Island Cops for Cancer tournament, with a further dozen opting out of the golf but joining the group for dinner. This year's event was organized by Port Alice RCMP Cst. Darren Regush, who hailed the tournament as a great success.
"The community support has just been stellar," said Regush after his round. "All the prizes we've got have been donated; we haven't had to spend any money here today." The event boasted a fabulous array of prizes for the participants as well as a range of silent bid auctions, from rounds of golf to return flights.
Even the dinner was fully donated, with local grocery stores donating the food and volunteers chipping in their time to prepare it.
After the meal the Phillips team, which finished the day with the lowest score, earned the right to take first pick from the overflowing prize table before the rest of the participants claimed their rewards and the auctions were finalized.
Over the course of the day the event raised more than $9,000 for the charity ride, which begins in Port Alice Sept. 22. The eighteen RCMP and media riders leave the village the next morning to head to Port Hardy for the first leg of their two-week journey.
Cst. Regush expressed his thanks to all the businesses and individuals who donated time, money and effort to make the event a success.