Former Sechelt Hospital oncology nurse Alison Rhodes is going from treating cancer to raising money for its cure by joining the 2017 Ride to Conquer Cancer.
Although the ride isn’t until August, Rhodes is starting to fundraise now for the $2,500 minimum fundraising goal, with the hope to raise even more by the Aug. 26-27 event.
The annual cycling fundraiser will see hundreds in B.C. take part and millions raised as a result of their efforts. In the eight years it’s been running, the ride has raised more than $77 million for the BC Cancer Agency.
The agency uses the funds to advance leading-edge research in the battle against cancer.
Rhodes is excited about the opportunity to make an impact through the ride.
“I’ve been a nurse for 32 years – 21 of those were spent in oncology. So if you came to Sechelt Hospital I was the nurse that gave you your chemotherapy and gave you your education,” Rhodes said, noting she also had several personal connections to the disease.
“I myself had a pre-cancerous tumour removed when I was 30. It was pretty scary. My mother died from a very rare thyroid cancer. It’s so rare that her oncologist, who was quite prominent, had only ever seen two cases in his entire career. So she died quite quickly from it … My father is a prostate cancer survivor and then I have also lost so many friends.”
In an effort to make a difference, Rhodes has started fundraising for the Ride to Conquer Cancer by offering space on her jersey for interested businesses to place their logos, and space on her helmet for people who want her to ride in support, or in memory, of someone.
“For those people who donate $50 or more who want me to ride for a loved one, I’ll put that person’s name on my helmet,” Rhodes said.
“I hope to have my whole helmet covered.”
If you would like to support Rhodes you can do so by emailing her at [email protected] or by searching her name at http://va17.conquercancer.ca/.
