Ladner’s Wendy Dubnov will be among the thousands taking part in B.C.’s largest cycling fundraiser this weekend.
The ninth annual Ride to Conquer Cancer leaves Cloverdale bright and early tomorrow morning, taking riders through a course of more than 200 kilometres throughout the Pacific Northwest on the way to Seattle.
Dubnov, who has lived in Ladner for the past two years with her husband and three children, will be taking part for the fifth time.
She admits she is not an avid cyclist, but was motivated to take on the challenging ride by chance.
“I saw an ad about the ride and was having a kind of round about conversation with family and friends and I had known a friend who had done it and I said, ‘I think I can do that.’ A couple of them said no you couldn’t do that, there is no way. Well, I registered five minutes after they told me I couldn’t do it,” she recalled with a laugh.
“So it was wanting to do something that has such a huge impact, but I think the motivation came really from people saying I couldn’t do it.”
She said she keeps coming back for several reasons.
“For one, it is my sponsors. Those people are so grateful that people such as myself takes this on, raising money and hoping to make a difference,” she said. “Then there is really showing myself that I can do something like this. The first year I did it, it was pouring rain — it was brutal. The second year there was some rain, but it wasn’t as bad, so every year has always been a different experience.
“I have three kids and I fear often when they are sick wondering is this something bad? I’ve had family members and co-workers who have passed away from cancer, so if I can do something to help and raise money to get rid of this terrible disease, then anyone can do it.”
The event has raised more than $77 million in its eight years.
“It’s a tough couple of days, but when you reach the last pit stop before the finish line it is pretty exhilarating,” she said. “You know that no matter how tired you are or how your body aches, you are in that last stretch, so it’s motivation for that last push. You have people from all walks of life cheering you on and your fellow competitors to charge through. When you finish it is rewarding, to say the least.”
To make a donation or register for the 2018 event, see: www.conquercancer.ca.
