Date: Sep 19, 2015
My name is Matt Rutherford and I am honoured to be apart of the 2015 Canadian Cancer Society, Cops for Cancer, Tour de Rock team. I have been a police officer with the Victoria Police Department for the past 4 years.
In today’s society it is safe to say that, whether directly or indirectly, everyone has been affected by cancer. Cancer has affected my life and the lives of those in my family with my dad and mother-in-law being diagnosed in 2010. Our family was blessed, as both my father and mother-in-law are currently cancer free.
Being born and raised in Victoria, I grew up watching the men and women of our Island police departments participate in Tour de Rock. In previous years I have admired the dedication that I saw in the tour members and listening to the stories of local families affected by pediatric cancer was always difficult.
I will never be able to comprehend how much physical pain these children will go through with cancer treatments and the emotional pain felt by their family. I am privileged to be able to raise funds to help ease this pain by assisting to enable these children to attend Camp Good Times.
Twenty-One of us will be embarking on this 1100 km bicycle ride for these kids. With every pedal stroke I make, I hope that it brings us closer to preventing this horrible disease. It is my wish that one-day police members do not have to ride the length of the island, as paediatric cancers become 100% curable.
I’m going to be bringing you along as my fellow VicPD riders and I ride through the rain and sun, up hills and through the wilds of the Island. I’ll be Tweeting on the Tour under the @vicpdcanada account, using the#mattstourderock hashtag.
The money raised from this event helps fund leading-edge cancer research that is improving cancer treatments, preventing cancer and saving lives; provide reliable and up-to-date information on cancer, risk reduction and treatment; offer vital community-based support services for people living with cancer and their families; and advocate for healthy public policies. Money also goes towards sending kids to Camp Goodtimes (www.campgoodtimes.org)
Thank you for your support!
Matt Rutherford