Former Langford resident plans to cycle for cancer research
Rick Stiebel
News Gazette staff
Rick Stiebel
News Gazette staff
Aaron Jacob is determined to do his fair share and arguably much more in the fight to eradicate childhood cancer.
Jacob, who grew up in Langford, will wheel his bike and trailer out on June 1 and attempt to cycle 7,800 kilometres across Canada by June 30. He’s a part of this year’s Great Cycle Challenge to raise money in support of research to develop treatments and a cure for childhood cancer.
Although he’s always been active in sports, particularly soccer, fastball and bowling, Jacob hadn’t done much cycling since his childhood before he took it up again about six years ago.
“I found out I had a sibling that my older sister tracked down in Redding, California,” said the 25-year Canada Post employee. “He came up for a visit three years ago and my sister-in-law joked that we should cycle down there.”
Jacob did just that in 2015, and has been hooked on long-distance cycling since.
He completed 4,600 km in the Great Cycle Challenge last June, cycling around the mainland and Vancouver Island from a “home base” in Kelowna.
“I started there because I wanted to visit my former soccer and fastball coach, Bob Harris, and his son, Bobby,” Jacob explained. “Bob was a huge influence in my life, like a second father, and I hadn’t seen him in 30 years. Bobby has dealt with five different cancers, and Bob had cancer as well. The idea of taking part in the Great Cycling Challenge popped up in the midst of planning the trip to Kelowna, so it all just came together.”
While Jacob admitted the first two weeks of cycling in the event last year were “pretty damn tough,” he realizes the challenge this year will be even more demanding. “I’d love to do it all in June, but that’s 266 kilometres a day pulling a trailer along the way,” he noted.
“When you consider the weather is unpredictable, it’s a little unrealistic, but that’s the goal I’ve set. I look at it like I’m riding a bike, I don’t have cancer. If I have to suffer a little, it’s worth it to help kids with cancer.”
Jacob has gathered pledges from family, friends and people he works with, and has approached various local companies for support as well. He will depart from Mile Zero in Victoria at 5 a.m. this Thursday and be on the 7 a.m. ferry from Swartz Bay.
“I love cycling and it’s my time to make this kind of contribution while I can,” he said. “No one knows what the future holds.”
The inaugural Great Cycle Challenge in 2016 involved 10,034 riders from all provinces and territories, who pedaled more than 1.47 million km.
Participants set a distance goal to challenge themselves, whether it’s 10, 20 or 2,000 kilometres. Riders track their progress using the Strava app, MapmyRide, their personal GPS, or manually through their profile page.
Cyclists’ efforts last year raised nearly $1.8 million for the National SickKids Foundation.
More than 1,400 children in Canada are diagnosed with cancer each year.
reporter@goldstream
gazette.com