Craig Rawlyk knows first-hand what cancer can do to a family.
The Port Moody resident lost both of his parents to the disease in what he said was one of the most trying periods of his life.
"Believe me, watching the ones you love waste away to nothing is not what anyone wants to do," he said in an email. "Not getting to enjoy a retirement they worked long and hard to have, not getting to see their grandchildren grow up."
But Rawlyk has managed to turn his grief into inspiration and the avid cyclist will be thinking about his parents when he participates in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer this summer. He has already launched his fundraising effort and is calling on friends, neighbours and anyone who has been affected by cancer to donate money to the cause. He hopes to raise as much money and train as hard as possible before he embarks on his two-day, 260-km trip from Vancouver to Seattle in June.
"I have been signed up for this event for about 90 days now and the experience so far has been truly amazing," he said. "From meeting some of the other local riders and listening to what drove them to this event... to the donations I have received so far, I've simply been blown away."
Those who wish to donate can look up Craig Rawlyk at www.conquercancer.ca before the June 17 fundraising deadline. All funds raised will go to the BC Cancer Foundation to support cancer research and education. Those who visit Rawlyk's fundraising page before April 9 are eligible to win a Vancouver Canucks jersey signed by the team. For more information, email Rawlyk at [email protected].
