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Car wash for Cops for Cancer this weekend

Sidney North Saanich RCMP auxiliary member to ride in this year’s Tour de Rock fundraiser

A car wash taking place this weekend will mark the first major fundraising effort for local Tour de Rock rider Alan Neville-Rutherford.

Neville-Rutherford was named to the 2013 Tour de Rock team earlier this spring and said he is excited to start the journey towards the two-week long ride that will take place in the fall.

“The main motivation for me to ride this year was that I had a cousin who passed away from Leukemia a year after being diagnosed,” said Neville-Rutherford.

“We were very close. He had three teenage kids and was the same age as me so it was a real eye opener.”

Neville-Rutherford has been a member of the Sidney North Saanich RCMP auxiliary since 2006 and has lived in Sidney since he moved to Canada from the UK almost 20 years ago.

“You usually find me at the Thursday night market selling Tour de Rock T-shirts and whatnot at the RCMP booth and people always asked me if I was the Tour de Rock rider.

“So I’m happy to be able to say that I am now, and I’m hoping to do everything I can to raise as much as possible for the pediatric cancer.”

Neville-Rutherford added that his employer, G4S who handle airport security around the province, has been extremely supportive and has allowed him to carry over vacation time from last year to cover the length of the ride in the fall.

“They have been so supportive of me taking this on and for that I’m thankful,” he said.

Currently, Neville-Rutherford is training three days a week. On Tuesday evenings the team practices hills, on Thursdays they do speed training and on Sundays they train distance.

“It’s really all about the team,” he said.

“We wear the same gear, we ride the same bikes and we stick together. That’s what it’s all about.”

The fundraiser this weekend is also going to be a team effort, Neville-Rutherford said, as many businesses in the community have offered up their goods and services for the car wash and barbecue that he’ll be holding Saturday.

“Thrifty Foods donated Smile Cards so we could purchase food for the barbecue, Monk Office Supply did all the poster printing, Speed Pro took care of the signage, Lordco donated the sponges and soap, Capital Fire donated the hoses and water and Quality Brake donated their parking lot to host the event in, so it really has been a community effort,” Neville-Rutherford said, adding that anyone who is keen to help out is welcome to show up and volunteer their time.

“I’m hoping to raise around $1500,” he said.

The car wash and barbecue in support of Cops for Cancer happens Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Quality Brake and Muffler in Sidney (9820 5th St.) For details, visit copsforcancerbc.ca.