Weather once again sidelined the Alberta Ride To Conquer Cancer’s Sundre event plans.
Days before the Saturday, Sept. 22 Celebratory Ride event, organizers cancelled it based on a forecast of snow and possible freezing rain.
“After many discussions with our safety experts and steering committee, we all agreed that safety is our number 1 priority and we do not wish to put any of you at risk while riding your bikes or when driving to Sundre,” organizers told participants.
More than 400 riders had RSVP'd to take part in the event that featured a welcome ceremony at the Sundre Rodeo Grounds, a 50- or 100-kilometre ride and concluding barbecue back at the grounds. The event was planned as a finale for this year's fundraising drive.
Snow blanketed the grounds that Saturday and temperatures hovered around -1C.
Undeterred, three lifelong friends still set out later that morning on their own ride.
Clad in Tundra Process Solutions Ltd. team cycling gear, Blaine Barnes, Shawn Rothery and Keith Morrison planned to ride the entire 100-kilometre route.
“We immediately decided to do this when we knew it was cancelled,” said Barnes.
They strategically placed vehicles along the route so they were never more than 15 kilometres from a warm ride. They planned to start in Bearberry, ride to Sundre and then back to Bearberry.
“We just thought it was important to do,” said Barnes.
They, like many of the other approximately 1,800 Alberta Ride To Conquer Cancer cyclists were sidelined when the headline event on Aug. 18 -19 was cancelled due to smoky conditions.
The route for the 10th annual, 200-kilometre cycling fundraiser was, for the first time, leading from Calgary to Sundre and back.
Few of the participants actually made it to Sundre before the ride was cancelled.
Barnes said he hoped organizers of next year’s ride choose the Sundre route again.
“So people can finish what they started,” he said.
Next year’s ride dates have already been selected. Krystal Clements, the event’s sales and fundraising manager said previously that organizers and riders are pushing to have the route once again pass through Sundre.
“We’re hoping to come back here next year August 18 to 19. We really want to come back, our riders really want to come back. Ultimately it’s the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s decision on where we ride,” she said.
Organizers thought Sundre “was absolutely amazing, standout from the rest, very accommodating, very hospitable. I can’t say enough about how well we’ve been treated here in the town,” she said.
Approximately $8.12 million was raised through the 2018 event.
