A yearly fundraiser benefiting the BC Cancer Foundation has been postponed due to COVID-19.
President and CEO Sarah Roth writes in a statement The Ride to Conquer Cancer has been moved to Aug. 28-29, 2021.
"I write to share that we’ve made the difficult and heartbreaking decision to postpone the mass gathering, two-day 2020 Ride to Conquer Cancer to 2021," Roth says.
Prince George and northern B.C. are represented by Wheelin' Warriors of the North.
It was announced last year that the local branch has raised close to $1 million since 2013.
The group finished eighth in team-total fundraising for the 2019 ride and also finished third in top community fundraising.
"This decision did not come lightly. We know how much this event means to you. And, I assure you, The Ride to Conquer Cancer, presented by Wheaton Precious Metals is –and will continue to be– critical to funding life-saving work at BC Cancer."
President and CEO of BC Cancer Foundation Sarah Roth. (via BC Cancer Foundation) The 2020 ride will instead be an innovative celebration as a community to honour the people the ride is for and continue raising awareness and funds for BC Cancer.
"Your health and safety and our role in helping keep our at-risk populations safe are paramount in our decision-making," Roth continued.
"Our Provincial Health Officer has shared it will be unlikely to host an event with thousands of people in the months to come. We also recognize the significant financial impacts and challenges that many riders and supporters are facing right now due to the economic turmoil caused by COVID-19.
"You and our collective Ride community mean the world to us at the BC Cancer Foundation. In the face of COVID-19, cancer doesn’t stop, and neither will we."
Each dollar that a rider has raised throughout 2020 will be applied to their 2021 ride.
"As a rider, you know the impacts of cancer more than anyone, and the value every dollar raised has in changing outcomes," the statement reads.
"As the largest fundraiser in this province, together, we have changed the outcome for thousands of people and we’re not finished. We will continue this mission together."
Roth says although this year won't see a sea of riders, she's already daydreaming of opening ceremonies for next year.
"I'm already daydreaming of opening ceremonies – a sea of Riders, celebrating our accomplishments, holding those we ride for close to our hearts as we ride to Hope, for hope."
