Riders gear up to beat cancer

From canoe.ca – Andrew Gregory has a new reason to ride for the B.C. Cancer Agency after raising more than $16,000 over the past three years.

At the launch of British Columbia’s inaugural Ride To Conquer Cancer yesterday, the testicular cancer survivor said he’s cycling for his friend Marcel’s four-year-old daughter Sophie who was diagnosed with brain cancer just a few weeks ago.

"This four-year-old now has in front of her multiple brain surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy," Gregory said. "But, with the research that the B.C. Cancer Agency is doing, Marcel and Sophie now have hope."

Cyclists who sign up for the Ride To Conquer Cancer will leave Vancouver and ride to Seattle over two days in June 2009. Similar rides will take place in Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.

Gregory said, such massive events help to keep conversation open on deeply personal health issues.

"With something like testicular cancer people are more likely to do self-exams, to ask questions, to talk about it," he said.