Two well-known educators on the Coast, Clint Fox and Barry Krangle, will bike 200 km with the Ride to Conquer Cancer in honour of school district staff and students familiar with the disease.
“In my 36 years in the school district I’ve witnessed so many friends, families, students and colleagues struggle with cancer,” Krangle said. “When Clint invited me [to take part in the Ride to Conquer Cancer] it was like an immediate opportunity to show some support for people I know have had to struggle.”
Fox also feels like doing the ride is a way to pay back a debt he owes the BC Cancer Foundation.
“About six and a half years ago my wife was diagnosed with cancer and she went through cancer treatment,” Fox said. “The treatment she received at the cancer clinic was just fantastic. The people were fabulous and I’ve always felt like I had a debt that needed to be paid back in some way.”
Fox and Krangle will take part in the classic Ride to Conquer Cancer route from Vancouver to Seattle next month. The two-day ride June 14 and 15 will see the riders pedal 100 km a day.
Both are avid riders and should complete the tour without trouble. Fox has been a road rider since 2000 when the Tour de France sparked his interest, and Krangle routinely uses his bike for travel on the Coast.
There was a time, however, when Krangle was unsure he’d be able to keep pedaling.
“I’m just over a year cancer free and there is just gratitude as soon as I jump on my bike because there was a time I didn’t think I’d be able to do that,” Krangle said. “So that’s a huge celebration to be able to do that and I’m thankful to be able to draw support towards others who maybe haven’t been so lucky.”
Through the Ride to Conquer Cancer, Krangle and Fox must fundraise at least $2,500 each for the BC Cancer Foundation.
The pair met their goal earlier this week.
“We just started fundraising three weeks ago, but the community has been so supportive. It’s incredible,” Fox said.
Despite reaching their goal the educators are happy to accept more donations. Everything raised will go to the BC Cancer Foundation for cancer research.
To raise more awareness about the tour, Fox plans to do some sort of biking event with students at Elphinstone Secondary School, where he teaches.
Krangle, who’s a principal, will also share the experience with his students at Madeira Park Elementary School.
“I’m going to involve the kids on the distance of the ride and share with them my commitment to putting my mind to something and following through with it and the importance of supporting a cause like this,” Krangle said. “I’ve had a couple of kids lose their parents to cancer in our community up there and I’d like to put a positive spin that we can beat cancer.”
If you would like to donate to Fox and Krangle’s effort, go to www.conquercancer.ca, click on “BC” and then “donate” and search for them by their last names.
Donations can also be dropped off at local schools in envelopes marked for Fox or Krangle.
