While there is always much joy and good-natured fun at the Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast events, this year there was also a deep sadness at the annual Rotary Club dinner held to honour the cause.
Last year the inspiration for the Sunshine Coast Cops for Cancer was a marvelous little blond boy who had just celebrated his third birthday in May. In November, cancer took Thomas Richards' life. For his parents, Billie and Steve, the objective of Cops for Cancer to raise funds for children with cancer has become even more important.
At the dinner on Sept. 17, Steve talked with Coast Reporter about the annual event. "I'm here to support the tour. For me, it's important that people see the face of success. But it's also important for people to know that not every story is a success story."
He spoke of the need for ongoing fundraising and how the success of today in the research and treatment of cancer is the result of fundraising 10 to 20 years ago.
"Fundraising now will aid in finding cures for things 10 to 20 years from now. We need to do more. We need to continue the fight."
Steve praised the efforts of the RCMP and groups such as the Rotarians that "come out and generate the awareness that creates the will to give in people."For Const. Spencer Mylymok, one of the Sunshine Coast riders for the previous two years, the evening triggered mixed emotions. On the one hand, he is thrilled that his buddy from two years ago, Renee Desaulniers, is thriving. And he is immeasurably saddened by the loss of Thomas. "I was fortunate enough to have Thomas enter my life last year. He was just a little spitfire," he recalled.
One of the highlights from last year, Mylymok said, was at the Ladies' Gala. The constable had just come back from a gruelling week of training in Chilliwack and was feeling less than 100 per cent. When Mylymok reached the hall where the event was being held, the first person he saw was Thomas. The little boy's face just lit up in one giant smile, and he cannonballed into the touched officer's arms.
"All my aches and pains and worries went away," Mylymok remembered.
Over the past year and a half the two families have become friends. "He and his family were in my thoughts so much last year," Mylymok said.
The form of cancer Thomas had still requires a great deal of research to make more exact treatment available. Right now, his dad said, it takes powerful chemotherapy, and even then it's not precise.
"When people think of Thomas, they have to have a clear understanding of why we're doing this [continuing to support Cops for Cancer]. They have to know there are the bad news stories," Steve said.
Another way he said people can help many cancer patients is by donating blood. The plasma, platelets and other products that are created from blood are desperately needed. "People donating is a huge help," he said.
If you would like to remember Thomas Richards and all children with cancer by a donation to Cops for Cancer, you can do so online at www.cancer.ca/copsforcancerbc and chose our community rider (Const. Ashley Taylor or Const. Candice Ellerbrok). Or if you prefer to send a cheque, do so to: Canadian Cancer Society, GVR, Attn: Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast, #230, 3689 East 1st Ave., Vancouver, BC V5M 1C2.
