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Firefighter quartet riding to conquer cancer

Members from the North Saanich Fire Department host fundraiser this weekend
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North Saanich firefighters Tieg Clark

Four members from the North Saanich Volunteer Fire Department are donning a different kind of gear this month.

Kurt Barner, James Bridge, Pat Jordan and Tieg Clark will swap their firefighting gear for bicycle gear next weekend for the 2013 B.C. Ride to Conquer Cancer, an event which sees over 2,000 riders pedal 220 kilometres from Vancouver to Seattle, Washington.

“This is my fourth year doing the ride, personally,” said Barner.

He added that he began riding in 2009 after he found out his father had been diagnosed with cancer.

“It’s great this year that some of the guys stepped up to do it as well,” he said.

The team, who’ve dubbed themselves the Cove Crusaders, will have to raise $10,000 collectively ($2,500 each) in order to participate in the ride, which happens annually in a handful of Canadian cities. The proceeds ($11 million in B.C. alone in 2012) go directly to provincial cancer foundations.

This Sunday, the four members will be hosting a car wash and bottle drive fundraising event at the newly-opened fire hall (986 Wain Rd.) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We’ll also have 50/50 draw, which if we sell all the tickets, the grand prize will be $10,000 cash,” said Barner.

To donate to the B.C. Ride to Conquer Cancer, visit the team’s donation page by searching Cove Crusaders from the main website at www.conquercancer.ca under the green ‘donate’ tab.

Printable donation forms are also available on the same page.