VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C. - It's an annual tradition that tests the limits of its participants, but it's all for a great cause.

The 2018 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock is officially underway. Riders are on the road after leaving the Tri-Port area Sunday morning. The yearly event helps raise funds for cancer research and helps kids battling cancer go to Camp Goodtimes.

Camp Goodtimes is a place where kids can forget about the disease they're battling. More on the camp can be found via this link.

The Tour de Rock sees the group of riders, which includes police, first responders and media personalities, travel from the top tip of Vancouver Island all the way down to Victoria.

Along the way, the riders stop in the different communities across the island, and take part in events like head shaves and pancake breakfasts. For the North Island region, the participants will be in Campbell River on Tuesday, September 25th.

The group will make stop at local elementary schools and will host the Boston Pizza Mix and Mingle event Tuesday evening.

Riders will travel to the Comox Valley come Wednesday, stopping by Comox Valley Dodge (4847 Island Highway North), and then having lunch at Boston Pizza in the Driftwood Mall plaza.

The Red Serge Spaghetti Dinner will take place Wednesday night at Comox's École au Coeur de l'île. A breakfast will be held Thursday morning at Thrifty Foods on Lerwick Road.

After visiting Cumberland, the riders will make their way towards Union Bay, then Qualicum and Parksville.

The grand finale will take place in Victoria on Friday, October 5th.

For a full schedule of events and detailed itinerary, visit tourderock.ca.

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Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock riders travel from Campbell River to the Comox Valley on Wednesday.

Media Rider with Vista Radio Sandra Boyd says it’s been quite the experience so far.

Boyd says her biggest motivating factors are the children that riders are helping out.

“A lot of kids don’t realize that kids with cancer, they don’t get to go to school. They’re 9 times out of 10 sitting in the hospital waiting for the next chemo treatment or radiation treatment,” she says.

Boyd adds that “being able to do something like this and send kids to Camp GoodTimes where they can just be kids and have fun is an honour.” The 2017 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock wraps up October 6th in Victoria.

Boyd notes that community support in the Tri-Port area has been phenomenal. Riders travelled through the North region this past weekend.

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After months of training, riders hit the road as part of the 20th annual Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock on Saturday.

Media Rider with Vista Radio's 1240 Coast AM, Sandra Boyd, says there are many emotions running through her mind as the Tour gets going.

"I feel excited. I feel anxious, and I feel nervous. Just a ton of emotions are going on through my head right now because everything that we've worked so hard for since March is finally coming to fruition."

Boyd says the training has been quite heavy since starting last spring.

"At the beginning of it all, I felt overwhelmed and I felt sore. As it progressed and I got stronger, things got better. I really, really had to learn how to work the hills with my gears so that was very tough." Boyd notes that as difficult as it was, the training that was provided was in-depth and the trainers did a fantastic job.

She says that there were a number of factors to why she decided to take part in this year's ride.

"Knowing I can make a difference with kids by raising the money and sending them to Camp GoodTimes and getting to know the families in my [Tri-Port] area that have kids with cancer was a huge deciding factor."

Boyd notes that before the adventure began, she didn't know how to even ride a bike, but took on the challenge because she knew she was supporting a great cause.

Riders will be in the Tri-Port area this weekend, covering Port Alice, Port Hardy and Port McNeill. They'll travel down Island as the days go on, arriving in Campbell River on Tuesday and in the Comox Valley on Wednesday before wrapping things up in Victoria on October 6th.

For more on the Tour de Rock, visit www.tourderock.ca.

To donate directly to Sandra's efforts, visit her Tour page at www.tourderock.ca/dt_team/boyd/.

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The 2016 Tour de Rock has come to a close.

Riders wrapped up the two week journey down Vancouver Island in Victoria on Friday night.

North Island rider Brent Shemilt says it was incredible to see the community come out to support the cause. He notes that the biggest thing is how many great people there are around the world who work to help out their communities and causes like this.

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Shemilt says being a part of tour has been an incredible experience and it's hard to believe the two weeks is already over.

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The Tour de Rock's an event that creates life-lasting memories.

The event is in full swing, and recently made stopovers in Campbell River and the Comox Valley.

Just outside Thrifty Foods in Courtenay, there's a bench you can sit on. Now it's not just any ordinary bench.

Andy Carter, the store's manager, says the bench not only commemorates the lives of riders, but those who lost their battles with cancer and a special member of the Thrifty Foods family.

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Carter says Mike Lawless, a former member of the Tour de Rock team, has had his name added to the bench.

The Tour de Rock riders continue their journey, and will make it to the finish line in Victoria next Friday.

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The Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock is one epic ride, and it helps raise funds for a great cause.

Kudos goes out to all the riders involved. And with the riders, comes the organizers and the guides. Bill Peppy is with the Oceanside RCMP. He’s a trainer and a support car driver on the 2015 Tour.

He says the motorcycle crews are awesome, and help out as well along the way.

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Peppy says as a support driver, you’re heavily relying on your rear-view mirrors and things can get a little bit stressful but at the end of the day, it’s all worth it because you’re helping out the cause.

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[caption id="attachment_6852" align="alignleft" width="167"] Hilary with her Junior Rider, Hope[/caption]

The ride features not only officers, but media personality and Vista Radio’s own Hilary Eastmure. She’s cheered on by her Junior Rider, Hope Copack. The 8-year-old says she’s having a great time, and talks about some of her responsibilities as a Junior Rider.

[caption id="attachment_6853" align="alignright" width="300"] Hope getting her head shaved by Hilary[/caption]

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Hope was one of many to have her head shaved to raise funds on the Tour’s stop in the Comox Valley.

Eastmure says that along the way, the crew will be making plenty of stops at local schools.

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The team continues the Tour further down Island, braving the elements along the way while raising money for Camp Goodtimes and pediatric cancer research.

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Many people came out to welcome the Tour de Rock team yesterday in Campbell River.

At Spirit Square, local rider Constable Jean Belanger shaved off his 20-year old moustache, which raised over $5,000.

Belanger says so far the ride has been great. He adds the nice weather so far and seeing his junior rider was wonderful.

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The Tour de Rock ride finishes October 2, and for more details head to tourderock.ca  

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Riders are cycling hard for a great cause!

The 2015 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team leaves from Victoria this Saturday, according to spokesperson Jan Buehler.

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Buehler says there are quite a few ways you can get involved and meet up with this year's riders.

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Buehler says funds raised go towards pediatric cancer research and Camp Goodtimes, which provides a safe, medically supervised fun experience for kids with cancer and their families.

Buehler says last year the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock event raised around $1.2 million.

For more info, check out tourderock.ca.

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Cups for Cancer Barrel Race at the Comox Valley Fair Grounds

Saturday, August 29 and Sunday August 30 starting at 10 a.m.

Don’t miss out on the event of the summer! Come to the Comox Valley Fair Grounds on Saturday August 29 for Play Day. Entry fee $10, plus $5 administration.

To pre-register call Kandi Woods at 250-923-3941. Barrel Race on Sunday, August 30 at 1:00pm. Peewee: $50 in pledges, Junior: $100 in pledges, Open: $150 in pledges, Newbie/haven’t done it, never won money class: $50 plus $5 admin. All pledges and money must be submitted by August 7. Barrel Race Open: $1000, Junior: $400, Peewee: $200, Newbie/haven’t done it in a long time: $100.

All will be paid out in 4D. There are 4 Buckles to be won! Given to whoever raises the most pledge money from each Barrel Race class. Grand Entry to open the race, Everyone welcome western, English, walk, trot or run with hair straight back.

Best Western – The Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre present – Pirates of the Caribbean II- The Pirates Return in Courtenay

Wednesday, September 23 at 6 p.m.

Come meet the 2015 Tour de Rock riders at the Best Western – The Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre at 1590 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC. Cocktails 6:00 p.m. and dinner 6:30 p.m.! Enjoy a six course meal, live band "Luke Blu Guthrie”, and live and silent auction. Tickets sold at Best Westerly, Boston Pizza,and the RCMP office. Tickets are $60 per person. We will be paying tribute to Mike Lawless for his many years of dedication and hard work to the Tour de Rock. For more info contact: Lisa Harrison 250-218-7158

NEW! Dicks Fish & Chips in Campbell River

Tuesday, September 22

Come down to Dicks Fish & Chips at 1003 Island Hwy. at 12:30 on Tuesday September 22nd and have a chance to meet the 2015 Tour de Rock riders and order some yummy lunch.

NEW! Community Head Shave in Courtenay

Thursday, September 24

Thrifty Foods breakfast and Head Shave. Come down to the Thrifty Foods parking lot (downtown location) and join the 2015 Tour de Rock riders for breakfast from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Thursday the 24th of September. For more information call Belinda at 250-218-3400.

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Imagine riding 1,100 kilometres across the island for two weeks on your bicycle with 19 other police officers.
That's exactly what North Vancouver Island traffic services officer Jean Belanger is doing for the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock.
As a current runner, Belanger finds the training challenging, but rewarding.

If you want to support his journey, you can buy tickets for the Tour de Rock raffle for only $10, or donate at tourderock.ca

The Cops for Cancer team will be cycling through Campbell River September 22.

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