The Tri-Cities lost one of its champions in the war on cancer last week.
Kevin Cameron, 49, died of a heart attack Jan. 3 while doing a training ride to Belcarra.
Cameron tackled the Concrete Hero Ultimate Urban Obstacle Challenge this fall to raise money for cancer research and was a veteran of the B.C. Ride to Conquer Cancer, raising more than $56,000 with his team The Motley Crew for the B.C. Cancer Foundation.
"The Ride to Conquer Cancer helped me in many ways [to recover] from a very hard battle with cancer," Cameron said in an interview with the Tri-City News in the lead up to the Urban Obstacle Challenge.
"So I may fall in some water, get sweaty running an obstacle course, or even take a hit from a dodge-ball or two but I will not stop, not until cancer is no more."
Craig Rawlyk, one of Cameron's teammates with The Motley Crew, called the Coquitlam man a respected force and inspiring leader in the fight against cancer. He said Cameron encapsulated the phrases "Never Ever Give Up" and "F Cancer, Embrace Life."
Cameron was healthy and fit when he was diagnosed with stage four head and neck cancer three years ago. Cameron underwent aggressive chemo and radiation therapy. That treatment drastically reduced his body weight but saved his life and put him on the path to help so many others who were battling the disease.
"He became sought after for his positive messages, his endearing and humble stature layered with an insatiable drive to make a difference," said Rawlyk, who called Cameron a real-life superhero living in the community.
"His ultimate super power had to be that he'd seek out people touched by cancer and made their world a little more whole, but in a way that can't be written down or explained."
A funeral service for Cameron will be held Saturday at the Northside Foursquare Church at 1460 Lansdowne Dr. Coquitlam. Family viewing will be from noon to 1 p.m., friends viewing from 1 to 1:45 p.m. and the service begins at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, it is asked a donation be made to a member of The Motley Crew team for the B.C. Cancer Foundation. More about the team can be found at www.themotleycrew.ca.
