West Shore RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve Wright has mixed emotions.
Before he heads off to Port Alice on Saturday (Sept. 20) to begin the 2014 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock, the 33-year officer said his thoughts are already with those at home, and those he’ll meet along the way.
“I’m very nervous, very excited at the prospect. I am so looking forward to meeting so many people and I hope I don’t let anyone down,” he said. “It (will be an) incredible journey and it is hard to believe it is already here.”
Six months after beginning training for the more than 1,000 kilometre fundraising journey from Port Alice to Victoria, the Sooke resident said his fundraising campaign has raised almost $27,000. He credits his home community and his work community in the West Shore for going above and beyond for the cause.
“I find it overwhelming that I have this much support in the community. They just come through in spades,” he said. “I can’t wait to get on the road and experience the love from the people from the communities we are visiting.”
Wright took a week off leading up to the Tour to get all his errands done. He’s already seen the effect wearing his newly minted Tour de Rock jersey has had on his everyday life.
While at Goldstream Bikes, he said a random passerby stopped to speak to him, tell the story of their cancer journey and dropped a $20 bill into his hand for the cause. It is stories like this he said have made his Cops for Cancer journey so memorable.
“With families like the fellow I met today, hearing about their struggles and journey, I am in awe of them yet they treat us like rock stars,” Wright said. “I am so looking forward to seeing more of these communities and meeting the people from there.”
Despite not having started the ride yet, Wright said he is also already looking forward to seeing the community come out and support him one more time.
The entire team makes their way past Cowichan and into Sooke and the West Shore on Oct. 1, culminating with a Gala event at the Westin Bear Mountain resort.
“The two weeks will go by quickly. I am looking forward to it and from the bottom of my heart I can’t thank everyone enough for their generous support and the support I will receive along the way,” he said.
“Trust me it is truly humbling to receive this support and I am looking forward to seeing everyone along the way.”
To donate to Wright's campaign or make a general donation to the Canadian Cancer Society, visit tourderock.ca and click on the green button to donate.
alim@goldstreamgazette.com