With six kids aged nine to 13 in her household, Prince George RCMP Cpl. Meghan Driscoll has a busy life.
It’s a full-time job tracking down criminals as a general duty supervisor at the downtown detachment and her duties as a mom to all those kids is a 24/7 occupation that doesn’t leave her much time to pursue her own hobbies.
But this year is different for the 43-year-old.
Driscoll has found the perfect vehicle that allows her some regular "me-time" – riding her road bike while she trains for the Cops for Cancer fundraiser.
The 20-year veteran cop is part of the 16-rider Tour de North. From Sept. 20-26 they will follow Highway 97, riding from Dawson Creek to Williams Lake raising money to help send young cancer survivors to Camp Goodtimes.
“Everybody has somebody in their family that’s been touched by cancer and for kids suffering with pediatric cancer it gives them and their families the opportunity to go to camp and talk to their families and not feel alone,” said Driscoll.
“I have an uncle and aunt that have passed in the last five years from cancer and my mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor.”
Driscoll first got involved in a cancer fundraiser while going through RCMP depot training in Regina.
“This is my first ride, this year, but it’s been my dream for 20 years. When I was at depot we did a shaving-our-heads fundraiser for Cops For Cancer, so this is my full-circle moment,” said Driscoll.
Driscoll rides a mountain bike and often goes for regular rides at Pidherny with three of the kids she and her wife Nikki are raising.
“It’s 850 kilometres in seven days with a 1,500 (metre) elevation gain and we’ve been out training since the start of May,” Driscoll said. “I’ve been kind of eyeing up the ride for a few years and luckily with my supportive spouse this year it was a good reason at the 20-year mark, kind of special."
Driscoll and training partners Megan Lee and Allie Fenske, both of North District RCMP, have been training regularly and just completed an 80-km ride. They’re working up to a 120-km trip and plan to race in the Kris Yip Fondo, June 22 at Tabor Lake. Their longest day during the Cops for Cancer ride will be 190 km.
“I’d never ridden a road bike before I started training for this,” said Driscoll. “I’m learning about clipless pedals and the brakes are in a different spot.
“I actually love the road riding. You get to go out there and see the beautiful city and beyond the city. We’ve got the whole summer to train.”
A native of Qualicum Park, Driscoll also worked with the RCMP on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland before she transferred to Prince George.
Three other RCMP officers are riding in Tour de North, including Brandon Jones (Fort St. James), Robert Orlowski (Burns Lake) and Owen Vrbos (Terrace).
The team also includes B.C. Emergency Health Services paramedics Douglas Furlong, Jamie McPherson and Sydney Steinbach; David Horvath of B.C. Sheriffs, Sharleen Bast and J.J. Bast of 150 Mile House Fire Department; Terry Jackson of Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Andrew Simpson of B.C. Hydro, and civilian riders Jacob Koomen and Ron Gallo.
Some of the Prince George riders gathered Wednesday morning at Denny’s restaurant on East Central Street. Proceeds from each Grand Slam breakfast sold from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. were donated to the cause.
Driscoll has so far raised $3,343 - tops on Tour de North. The team has so far raised $27,153 of its goal to collect $200,000.
If you would like to donate to Cops For Cancer, go to the website.
