A bike ride to raise money for cancer patients and research is set to kick off this July, and one Grande Prairie resident is looking to go the extra mile.
The Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer is a two-day-long event in Strathmore, where riders will face a 100 kilometre trek on both days while raising money for local families across Alberta. The funds will go directly to care centres like the Grande Prairie Cancer Centre.
Kara Gauthier, a Grande Prairie resident with an affinity for all things endurance, says the ride is important to not only her but her entire family after they lost her father to liver and pancreatic cancer in 2019.
“It started off with my brother, he started [the ride] when my Dad was ill, and he does it every year, so it has a lot more meaning.”
This will be the first time Kara is taking part in the ride and she says she is looking forward to taking part alongside her brother as they honour their father.
“Riding with him side by side, doing the fundraiser with him, it just kinda touches me,” she says. “My father taught me strength and perseverance, as he did his very best to stay active and positive through his fight with the disease.”Â
Gauthier has committed to raising $2,500 before her ride and says she has plans to reach her goal through a months-long bottle drive before the event. As of January 2024 her total sits at around $500 raised; Gauthier says she is anticipating the bottle drive to be a hit especially as the holiday season comes to a close.
Interested individuals can make bottle donations by calling Gauthier directly at (780)-933-0028 or directly on her fundraiser page.
