A bike brigade chaperoned by the RCMP started in Kelowna on Friday morning and it is going to the Southern Interior for a great cause.

The 22nd annual Cops for Kids ride started just after 8 a.m. on Sept. 8 as the 24 participating riders left the Sandman Hotel in Kelowna to make their way down to Peachland. In total, the ride is 10 days long and riders will cycle nearly 1,000 kilometres. They travel the same route every year.

Since 2001, the non-profit charity has been raising money to help children who are going through a medical, physical or traumatic crisis. In that time, they害羞草研究所檝e raised more than $6.1 million, helping more than 3,100 children.

害羞草研究所淎ll the money that we raise goes to the kids within our area,害羞草研究所� said Vernon North Okanagan RCMP Cpl. Tania Finn. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檇 love to be able to support those families, so the more donations we get, the more families we can help out.害羞草研究所�

Finn also stated that so far in 2023, Cops for Kids has received 365 requests for financial assistance, which is already more than they received in all of 2022. Right now, the charity spends more than $13,000 a month to help families in need. Finn also said that with enough support from the local communities over the next 10 days during the ride, they should be able to reach their financial goal for the year.

The annual Cops of Kids charity 10-day bike ride started in ! 24 riders are going through the southeast of B.C. to raise money for children going through medical, physical, or traumatic crisis.

害羞草研究所� Jordy Cunningham (@CunninghamJordy)

This year害羞草研究所檚 riders feature current and former RCMP officers as well be members of B.C. Corrections and B.C. Sheriffs and a few members of the public. On top of working long hours during the busiest time of the year with the Grouse Complex of wildfires in the Central Okanagan, these riders have continued to find time to train for the 10-day endeavour.

害羞草研究所淭his year, for our local riders, it害羞草研究所檚 been extra challenging,害羞草研究所� said Finn. 害羞草研究所淢any of us worked the evacuations and many of the riders were even evacuated themselves. They were working long hours and still managed to train in smoky conditions in order to be prepared for this ride.害羞草研究所�

And on top of the wildfires, is the recent landslide on Highway 97 between Peachland and Summerland, which is forcing the route to have a slight detour on the opening day of the event.

害羞草研究所淯sually we ride right down Highway 97 but this year we are unable to do that so we害羞草研究所檙e going to have to load up the bikes in Peachland and drive around through Aspen Grove to Okanagan Falls where we害羞草研究所檙e going to pick up the ride again,害羞草研究所� said Finn.

害羞草研究所淲e weren害羞草研究所檛 exactly sure how this was going to look this year because of what we害羞草研究所檝e all seen happening in our communities the last few weeks, from fires to landslides. We weren害羞草研究所檛 sure if you害羞草研究所檇 be riding road bikes or mountain bikes,害羞草研究所� said RCMP Southeast District Supt. David Greig, getting a laugh from the group ahead of the ride.

West Kelowna Const. Stefanie Wainman is taking part in the event for the second time.

害羞草研究所淭his is a great cause,害羞草研究所� Wainman told Capital News. 害羞草研究所淭his is not an easy ride, the days are long but the people in the communities we visit are fantastic.害羞草研究所�

Cops For Kids has many supporting sponsors that help out every year, including Stutters Restoration, who presented a cheque to the cause during a presentation before the riders left.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 economic chaos, there害羞草研究所檚 political chaos, there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of chaos around us and the best antidote to chaos is a little bit of hope,害羞草研究所� said Stutters Restorations vice president Cameron Stutters. 害羞草研究所淲hen families are going through a hard time and there害羞草研究所檚 a loved one or a little one that害羞草研究所檚 sick, there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of chaos in that home. Today as you ride, you bring a little bit of hope to those families facing challenges.害羞草研究所�

The 10-day challenge is going through 26 communities and will stop to meet kids and families Cops for Kids has helped out at each stop.

害羞草研究所淲e really appreciate everyone害羞草研究所檚 support along the road,害羞草研究所� added Finn. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檇 love the community to come out and cheer us on.害羞草研究所�

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jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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