More than a dozen RCMP officers and support staff rode their bikes from Penticton to Oliver Saturday morning as part of the annual Cops for Kids event, which has helped raise in excess of $4 million over the past 15 years to assist children in crisis across the Okanagan Valley. The riders were treated to a luncheon at the Oliver Fire Department hall in Oliver before heading up to meet a second team of riders in Grand Forks on Saturday evening. The ride ends on Sunday in Kelowna. (Keith Lacey photo)
It’s not fun getting pelted with hail after spending long, gruelling days on a bicycle, but it’s all worth it when you see the smile on the faces of children you’re helping.
Those words from John Bauer, an auxiliary officer with the Kelowna RCMP, who was participating in his sixth consecutive Cops for Kids bike ride to raise funds to assist children in crisis across the Okanagan Valley.
Two teams of riders – made up mainly of RCMP officers and support staff from the Okanagan Valley – took off this past weekend to participate in the 10-day fundraising event.
One group of about 15 riders left from Osoyoos Saturday morning to ride up Anarchist Mountain towards Grand Forks.
A second group biked from Penticton to Oliver Saturday morning.
The two groups met up in Grand Forks Saturday evening and will be riding all week in the Kootenay mountains towards towns like Castlegar and Cranbrook before heading back towards Kelowna, where the ride will end this coming Sunday afternoon.
Bauer said he’s proud to be part of a fundraising event that has helped raise in excess of $ 4 million for children in crisis across the Okanagan Valley over the past 15 years.
“The best part of being part of the ride is getting to meet the children you are helping and their families,” he said. “When you think of the kids, it helps you get through the tough parts of the ride.
“Last year, we were getting pelted with hail up near Castlegar and we were all pretty exhausted, but there were a few kids out there cheering us on and that kept us pushing.”
Most of the RCMP officers involved in the ride take vacation time to participate in the Cops for Kid ride, which shows how important this event is to them, he said.
“It takes a lot of training to get ready for the ride and it can get pretty tiring once you’re into day eight, nine and 10, but it’s a very rewarding experience and I know that’s why I keep coming back every year,” he said. “A lot of the kids we’re helping have been through a lot, so it’s not asking us too much to push through the pain and complete the ride once a year.”
Each and every year since the Cops for Kid ride has taken place, volunteers from Oliver invite the riders to a luncheon at the Oliver Fire Department.
At this year’s luncheon, Lee Chic from the Kiwanis Club of Oliver presented a cheque to the ride for $500, while the Oliver Lions Club also presented a cheque for $500. The Oliver Lioness Club presented a cheque for $350.
In Osoyoos, members of the Elks Lodge invited riders to dinner last Friday night, while the Osoyoos branch of the Royal Canadian Legion fed them breakfast Saturday morning.
Bauer said it’s heartening to see that residents in each and every community they travel through as part of Cops for Kids reached out to provide food and monetary donations to the worthy cause.
“The amount of community spirit that comes with being part of this event is incredible,” he said. “They feed us well, which is very important as you have to stay well fuelled to spend long days on the road cycling.
“It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of.”
The Cops for Kids Charitable Foundation was founded in 2001 and involves RCMP members and support staff across the RCMP’s southeast district who are committed to assisting children that are in need of medical, physical or traumatic crisis counselling within the Southern Interior region of B.C.
Every year, close to 30 officers and support staff leave from Kelowna and travel all across the southeastern part of the province to raise funds and awareness about the need to support children in need.
Not only do RCMP officers and support staff take part in the Cops for Kids Ride, but sheriff’s officers and Canadian Border Services Agency members have participated as well.
Anyone wishing to assist the campaign can make a donation of cash, cheques or money order, payments on credit cards or pre-authorized monthly payments to the Cops for Kids Charitable Foundation by visiting the website at www.copsforkids.org.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
This is one of two teams of riders participating in this year’s Cops for Kids fundraising bike ride. This team left from Penticton early Saturday morning and arrived at the Oliver Fire Department hall around noon, where volunteers treated them to a hearty lunch. (Keith Lacey photo)
Members of the Osoyoos Elks Club and Osoyoos Royal Purple prepared dinner for RCMP officers and support staff participating in this year’s Cops for Kids event. Elks Club past president LeRoy Olson presented a cheque for $500 to Cops for Kids ride captain Julio Krenz. (Keith Lacey photo)
Members with the Osoyoos branch of the Royal Canadian Legion prepared breakfast to RCMP officers and support staff competing in this year’s Cops for Kids event this past Saturday morning. Branch president Bruce Davies presented a $500 cheque to the worthy cause. (Contributed photo)
