Cops For Cancer

[MalahatTwo7]

I just got this in my email from the radio station back in Victoria. Very very KUUL.

Howdy, Richard.

We'd first like to thank each and every person who helped out The Q!'s Riderthon, where Ed Bain & The Q! Morning Show broadcast live from 6:00 am-6:00 pm at Thrifty Foods Hillside.

The goal was to raise $1000 for each member in the Canadian Cancer Society's Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock.

After a full twelve hours of broadcasting, chatting with cancer patients and survivors, and receiving amazing donations large and small from businesses and individuals alike over the phone and in person . . . the grand total was over $24,000!

So, warm fuzzies and big thanks all around. Now, here's your latest Q! Crew update.

Each year these folks ride through the Malahat area, and we would usually provide truck escort through our district.

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Just heard an update this morning ... Port Alice raised an awe-inspiring $47.000! (Roughly 1000 residents, I believe)

[MalahatTwo7]

Sheri, its not too uncommon on the Island, for the smallest of communities to raise the greater (greatest) amounts. Kinda funny that, but seems to be how it is "over there". Its great to hear about stuff like that in any case.

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Yup, I remember it was like that last year too, all the small communities up island kicked butt!

I was shocked to hear the Q's total, I'm sure they did more last year.

[MalahatTwo7]

Sheri, I guess they were at the beginning of their trip...

Grandpa's girl loses locks in Cops for Cancer fundraiser

Jeff Bell, Times Colonist Published: Thursday, October 05, 2006

Eight-year-old Amanda Larsen cheerfully said goodbye to her shoulder-length blond hair yesterday in front a big crowd at Mill Bay Thrifty Foods.

Motivated by her grandfather's ongoing battle with cancer and her own health scare a few months ago, the Shawnigan Lake girl decided that she would have her head shaved to support this year's Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock ride, now into its last few days and solidly past the $1-million mark in money raised.

Amanda brought in $695 for the tour, which supports childhood cancer research and programs.

Three boys from her school, Discovery Elementary, also went under the razor.

Proud mom Michelle Johnson said Amanda handled all the attention at the head-shaving session with ease.

"She was up there and she was just all for it! She wasn't scared ... and she looks great!"

Amanda had a simple explanation for losing her locks -- her grandfather.

"I just wanted to do it for my Papa Knute."

Amanda had health concerns during the summer, when she became very sick and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

When the staff at Island View Construction, her father's employer, got together and raised $500 to help with the purchase of the supplies she would need, she started to think about raising money for others, Johnson said.

The condition of Papa Knute made supporting the Tour de Rock the obvious choice.

"Between the two events in her life she was just inspired to shave her head, she was going to do it."

Papa Knute was watching when Amanda's hair came off, her mom said.

"He was teary, he was really moved."

The Mill Bay head shave was one of many stops yesterday for the 21-member Tour de Rock team. Now in its ninth year, the tour has raised more than $7 million since its inception.

The 13-day, 1,000-kilometre ride passes through 27 Vancouver Island communities, and all of them extend an amazing welcome, said Victoria police Sgt. Todd Wellman during an afternoon stop yesterday at Coast Capital Savings in Langford's West Shore Centre.

The Tour de Rock team is made up of 20 police officers from all over the Island, along with media rider Tasha Reid from The Zone radio station.

"It's been a fantastic journey," said Wellman, a team co-captain. "The community we have on this Island that pulls together for a common cause is incredible." Seeing so many children and schools get involved in the effort has been special, he said.

"All these kids wanted to help other kids, and that was really neat to see."

WHERE TO SPOT TOUR DE ROCK TODAY

7:30-8:45 a.m. Team breakfast at Caledonia Avenue White Spot 9-9:20 a.m. Head-shaving event at Fairfield Thrifty Foods

9:25-9:45 a.m. Margaret Jenkins Elementary, 1824 Fairfield Rd. 9:50-9:55 a.m. Cheque presentation at Oak Bay Municipal Hall

10-10:15 a.m. Pie-in-the-face event at Oak Bay Coast Capital Savings

10:17-10:40 a.m. Oak Bay secondary, 2101 Cadboro Bay Rd.

10:55-11:20 a.m. St. Michaels University School, 3400 Richmond Rd.

11:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Reynolds secondary, 3963 Borden St.

12:40-1 p.m. Central Saanich Coast Capital Savings, 7860 Wallace Dr.

1-1:20 p.m. Saanichton Elementary, 1649 Mount Newton Cross Rd.

1:30-2:30 p.m. Team lunch at Mt. Newton Cross Road White Spot

3-4 p.m. Sidney's Mary Winspear Centre.

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2006