Every time Jonathan Adams hits the road in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, he exceeds his fundraising goal.
This year is proving to be no different — and he's getting some help from a surprising source.
Two neighbour kids at his Port Coquitlam townhouse complex — sisters Aydenne and Kendra Johnson — recently turned their joint birthday party into a fundraising event for the 36-year-old Adams, raising $450 toward his 2018 goal of $10,000.
"I did not expect that at all," said Adams, who did not know what the pair had done until he saw the donation show up on his fundraising website.
Aydenne, who turned eight May 12, and Kendra, who turned six May 7, usually celebrate their birthdays together. The two said they got the idea for using the party as a fundraiser after several family members and friends got cancer.
"Our granddad had cancer," Aydenne said.
"We didn't want them to get more cancer," added Kendra.
Without consulting Adams, the two sent out birthday invitations that asked for donations in lieu of gifts "to help us kick cancer's butt."
"I was pretty shocked that kids of that age would turn down the opportunity to get toys and gifts and presents, and saw the value of donating to this cause," Adams told The Tri-City News. "Obviously, I am touched that they have personally been impacted with family members and friends that have gone through cancer treatment."
As for Adams, he got involved in the Ride to Conquer Cancer in 2015 after his father died following a 15-year battle with cancer.
"I decided that would be enough motivation to hop on a bike," he said, noting that he had never been an avid cyclist before then. "August 2015 was my first time doing the ride."
In his first year, he set a goal of raising $3,000 but ended up bringing in $3,800. The following year he again exceeded a $5,000 fundraising goal and for the 2018 ride, with two months left before the race, he is 82% of the way to achieving his goal of $10,000.
This year, instead of the usual trip to Seattle, the 200-km route will take Adams on a tour of the Fraser Valley. He'll start in Cloverdale, looping through Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford, before spending the night in a camp in Chilliwack. On the second day, Adams will push on to the finish line in Hope.
And he won't be alone. Last year, close to 2,000 riders took part in the event, raising $8.3 million for the B.C. Cancer Foundation.
Adams is captain of a team of work colleagues that has grown from eight in the first year that he participated in the ride to 24 for the 2018 trek.
"It is an epic experience," he said.
• Those who wish to help Adams' fundraising efforts can go to his fundraising website at www.conquercancer.ca/goto/JonathanAdams.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
@gmckennaTC
