A six-figure cheque was handed to Tour de Rock riders as they finished the last leg of their 1,200 km trek across Vancouver Island to raise money for childhood cancer research.
The team rolled into the legislature yesterday to bring the event to a close and with emotions running high, the team (now family) says getting $803,000 in donations will help make a dent in providing medical care to those who need it.
VistaRadio’s Nicholas Arnold says the tour may be over, but the memories will last forever.
“There was an incredible effort by so many people,” he says. “Huge thanks to everyone who donated.”
Arnold says the tour itself was exhilarating, but after 14 days it will take a while for him to readjust to “normal life,” but adds the 14 days is nothing compared to what kids have to go through when they receive the cancer diagnosis.
“I have to stop at red lights now, I don’t have my meals planned out for me, and I don’t have a root beer waiting for me at each stop,” he says. “It has been a real adjustment back to normalcy.”
Nicholas Arnold’s team raised over $27,000 for child cancer research and Camp GoodTimes, and he says there is still time to make a contribution through the website to help continue the fight.
“We’re still accepting donations through the end of the month,” he adds. “If you didn’t get to pitch in for the Tour de Rock and want to, head on over to the website.”
The tour started in Port Alice on Sept. 21 and finished at the legislature in Victoria on Friday.