The Enbridge Ride To Conquer Cancer Events have come to an incredibly successful close for 2012. The first of the four events kicked off In Toronto before moving on to Vancouver, Calgary and finally Montreal. These events are the four largest charity fundraisers in Canada and have collectively raised more than $45 Million this year alone. In the four years since the RTCC was started, the fundraising has reached an astronomical total well in excess of $120 Million. This total has helped purchase treatment equipment, fund crucial research and expand the facilities in which Cancer is studied and treated.
The Toronto ride is the biggest of the four. More than 5000 riders came out this year and raised a whopping $18 Million. With the Funds Going to the Ontario Cancer Foundation the commitment of the riders the volunteers and donors can not go unnoticed. This particular ride had 6 different routes associated with it varying from a 200km endeavor all the way up to a 350km epic. All 6 paths took riders out to the beautiful Niagara region along beautiful scenic paths. Through sun, cloud and a touch of rain this was a great event to kick off the 2012 season.
Hopping across the country to British Columbia, the second ride started in Vancouver and made its way down the west coast to Seattle Washington. The standard and challenge routes both brought riders across the border and into the United States for a beautiful ride along the coastline towards their destination. In its fourth year the BC ride brought out nearly 3000 riders who banded together to raise $12Million. This ride was impressive for another reason as well. In addition to the 240-360km ride these riders fought through torrential rain throughout the day and into the night. While mother nature tested the riders limits physically and mentally the wheels kept rolling. The riders persevered with the thoughts for their friends and families that have been affected by this terrible disease.
The BC ride was wet but the Alberta ride was in a class of its own. While this ride started in relative dryness the first day deteriorated exponentially as riders approached camp. As the sky emptied onto these brave riders the ground softened and the rivers began to flow. As bad as it was though, the riders persevered. Clutching on to warm food, relative tented dryness and Steam Whistle Beer the night passed by and the continued weather was an incentive to get an early-morning start towards the finish line. As luck would have it, the day moved on and the sky began to clear. The rivers ran high and the water remained standing but the riders could start to dry out. The beacon of light at the finish became brighter while the tired, wet and determined riders moved onwards to the finish. It is again, the thought of the struggle in fighting cancer that provides the motivation to ride on. This thought makes the superficial agony of the ride seem nothing more than a molehill. These 1800 riders raised over $8 Million dollars and had an amazing level of determination to make it across the finish line.
The 2012 RTCC tour wrapped up in Montreal Quebec. 2300 riders come out and raised an astounding $7 Million for cancer research in Quebec. This ride was a touch different than the previous two. The roads were dry and the sun was hot, the struggle was still present though. In this instance the riders fought through heat and humidity for two days. Hydration, body temperature and exhaustion were the demons to defeat here. Taking the riders from Montreal to Quebec City, this was the perfect finish to the most successful Enbridge Ride To Conquer Cancer series of rides yet. The money raised, the lives changed and the sheer determination of all the riders is an inspiration to daily life. To take a fraction of what each and every rider has put into this ride and apply it to daily life really can change the future. Through, events like this and the people involved we will soon Conquer Cancer!
Some Numbers to ponder from the ride:
13000 Riders
$45 Million
3,250,000 KM ridden
