Annie Ewart, 13, and Craig Logan, 15, have raised more than $5,000 for cancer research.
Darren Stone, Times Colonist
Saanich teens earn meeting with Lance Armstrong
Fundraising efforts in the fight against cancer bring meeting with Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong
Matthew Gauk, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Two North Saanich teenage cyclists have raised thousands of dollars and are expected to raise thousands more for the fight against cancer. Because of their efforts, the spandex-clad duo will get to meet Lance Armstrong next month in Vancouver and maybe even go for a spin with the retired professional bicycle road racer.
"He's always been my hero," said Craig Logan, a 15-year-old going into Grade 10 at Stelly's Secondary. "I mean, how couldn't he be? I'm a cyclist and he's won the Tour de France seven times."
The Tour de France is the highlight of the summer for Logan, who usually gets up at around 6 a.m. to catch the live coverage from Europe on TV. That's why Logan is so excited about meeting Armstrong -- who overcame testicular cancer -- at the B.C. Cancer Foundation's Tour of Courage community ride, set for Sept. 23.
"Both of my grandmothers have passed away from cancer and my grandfather just got diagnosed with blood cancer, so that was really pushing me to raise money and try to make a difference," said Logan.
Logan's friend and teammate, 13-year-old Annie Ewart, came up with the idea of raising funds after seeing the event advertised in a Cycling B.C. newsletter. They started off trying to collect the $200 required for youth to participate, but when they learned they could go to an inspirational talk by Armstrong if they passed the $5,000 mark, they threw themselves into it. They e-mailed friends and family and the Internet-based donations started rolling in.
"We created this letter and went into Victoria to bike shops and hairdressers and dentists that we had all used," said Ewart, whose grandmother has had cancer three times and whose two uncles are fighting cancer now. "By the end of the first day, we had over $1,000."
Logan and Ewart, who've upped their goal to $7,000 after raising more than $5,000, are now the No. 2 fundraisers for the event, although they're still gunning for the No. 1 spot.
The inaugural Tour of Courage community ride is open to all cyclists, novice to veteran, aged 12 and up. Those under 18 must raise $200 to participate, while adults must raise at least $1,000. Riders embark on 30-, 60- or 90-kilometre circuits leaving from the University of B.C. campus (Logan and Ewart plan to do the 90-km version).
On the web: www.tourofcourage.ca
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007 |
