Category Archives: Tour de Rock

Injured Tour De Rock Rider Recovering

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COMOX – A Comox Valley man who safely cycled more than 1,000kms in a two week Cancer Society fundraiser is recovering in hospital after being hit by a vehicle just blocks from his home.

Auxiliary RCMP officer James Matsuda was thrown through the air when his bicycle collided with a vehicle making a left turn in front of him at a Courtenay intersection near his home. Matsuda says he doesn’t recall much of the accident but does remember coming in and out of consciousness as he was being transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Comox.

The 45 year old man received broken bones, a dislocated hip plus knee injuries but was thankful he was wearing his helmet at the time of the crash. The incident occurred on Matsuda’s first bike ride since the conclusion of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock. The two week event is made up of 22 riders travelling the length of Vancouver Island.

James and his wife Belinda say they have been overwhelmed by well-wishes since the accident occurred. Doctors have not yet indicated how long the injured cyclist will have to stay in hospital.

Follow Gord Kurbis on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CTVNewsGord

Cops for Cancer Tour De Rock Raised $1,505,000

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VICTORIA – They have seen and done a lot since they set out nearly two weeks ago, but maybe nothing could have prepared the Cops for Cancer Tour De Rock team for what happened today on their final day on the pedals.

School visits are always a hilight of the tour. One school in particular left riders speechless.

The 2011 Cops for Cancer Tour De Rock raised $1,505,000

Tour De Rock 2011: Day 12

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VICTORIA – Another day is in the books as the Cops For Cancer Tour De Rock winds down. Day 12 produced some big fundraising efforts, starting at Oak Bay High.

A check for $45,229 was presented surpassing last years total, after students canvassed on foot and hosted bottle drives.

Next up, Lambrick Park Secondary, the alma madder of media rider Louise Heartland. Kids there handed over a check for more than $4,500 before it was on to a younger crowd.

Preschool children at Common Wealth Place showed off their handmade bikes, while giving words of encouragement and huge hugs to the riders.

Another milestone was then reached when the team passed the 1000 km mark on their way out to Kelcet Elementary. There Kynan Smith welcomed the riders with schoolmates. He raised more than $8,500 by going door to door asking for donations.

Tomorrow the Cops For Cancer Tour De Rock will wrap up in Centennial Square, where the fundraising total of the thirteen day ride will be unveiled.

Follow Erin Glazier on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CTVNewsErin

Tour De Rock 2011: Day 11

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DUNCAN – Starting out from Duncan bright and early this morning, twenty-two riders began their last big ride in this years Cops For Cancer Tour De Rock. Starting from the tip of Vancouver Island, Police officers and media have been riding for ten days, raising money to find a cure for cancer.

First up, Frances Kelsey Secondary, where a cheque for more than thirteen-hundred dollars was presented after students did everything from shaving their heads to stacking firewood to raise money.

Further down the road Shawnigan Lake School hosted a live head shave including several grade 12 girls who lost their locks. A total of twenty-three thousand dollars was raised this year, the most in school history.

The riders stopped for a quick meal break in Mill Bay before tackling their last big climb, The Malahat. Grinding up the steep grade the riders made it to the top of the 352m accent, before racing down the other side towards a school with a big heart.

Willway School showed great spirit upon the riders arrival, but it was their version of “Heal The World” that brought seasoned police officers to tears. The tour finished up in Sooke at Ecole Poirier, before the riders rest up for the last two days.

Tomorrow the tour will make stops in Oak Bay, Victoria, and Sidney.

Follow Erin Glazier on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CTVNewsErin

Tour De Rock 2011: Day 10

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COWICHAN VALLEY – The Tour de Rock team kicked off day ten of the two week bike ride in Chemainus. The team was escorted into the elementary school by Police and welcomed by hundreds of screaming students.

The riders says seeing students along their journey provides them with energy and the support needed to complete that leg of the tour

Fundraising efforts are on going at Chemainus Elementary and will be for the next week

The principal says she’s proud of her students for donating what they can.

More than 660-thousand dollars has been raised this year through the Tour de Rock for the Canadian Cancer Society.

In Duncan, CTV’s own Louise Hartland and Kool FM’s Brittany King were presented with a cheque from Canadian Tire for 41-thousand dollars, that money was raised this summer at the Canadian Tire tee off for the tour golf tournament at Cowichan Golf and Country Club.

The team will spend the night in Duncan before conquering the Malahat and cycling into greater Victoria tomorrow.

Follow Steve Colterman on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CTVNewSteve

Tour De Rock 2011: Day 9

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NANAIMO – The streets of Nanaimo were on lock down as the Tour de Rock team is escorted along Commercial Street. The team arrived at Diana Krall Plaza to cheers of Support, from a crowd of more than 300 people.

Its day nine for riders who have already pedaled more than 650 kilometres since their journey began in Port Alice on Sunday September 25, 2011.

The team arrived in Nanaimo from Tofino Sunday afternoon and attended a community dinner at Beban Park. The team heard from cancer survivors, and spent time with Junior Riders. The evening raised more than 11-thousand dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society to support programs such as Camp Goodtimes.

The Riders sat the tour is an emotional rollercoaster, one that is beginning to take its toll.

The team departs Nanaimo with more than 300 kilometres to go. The two week adventure will come to an end Friday evening in Victoria.

Follow Steve Colterman on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CTVNewSteve

Tour De Rock 2011: Day 5

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NANAIMO – The Tour de Rock team has made it to the halfway point, 500 kilometres behind them and 500 more to go.

Day five of the two week ride saw riders pedal more than 50 kilometres, beginning the day in Courtenay passing through Union Bay and arriving in Qualicum Beach by early afternoon.

The journey is taking a physical toll on the riders as they knew it would, but they’re also feeling the emotional toll.

The ride is an emotional rollercoaster for CTV’s Louise Hartland, as cancer hit’s close to home. Her Dad was diagnosed with stage four colon Cancer in 2009.

Louise says support from her teammates has helped her along the way, but she’s looking forward to the weekend when her family arrives in Port Alberni to cheer her on.

Louise says with her Dad by her side, it will be another memory on an adventure she’ll never forget.

Follow Steve Colterman on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CTVNewSteve

School Fundraising a Big Part of Cops For Cancer Tour De Rock

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SAANICH – Schools are always a big part of the Cops for Cancer Tour De Rock. As the cyclists get ready to hit the road in just nine days, the students and staff at schools up and down the island are furiously fundraising.

The team will visit 35 schools which last year collectively raised more than $200,000. Good old fashioned school rivalry is a great motivator.

Follow Louise Hartland on Twitter: http:www.twitter.com/CTVNewsLouise

Lemonade Stand for Tour de Rock

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SOOKE – We are just over three weeks away from the start of the 2011 Tour de Rock.

The goal is to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer research, and support programs such as Camp Goodtimes.

Each year thousands of people up and down Vancouver Island rally around the team, including people who know the importance of this worthwhile cause.

Eight year old Molly Irwin is holding a lemonade stand Monday to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer. Her six year old sister Daisy was diagnosed with ALL and AML leukemia when she was just ten weeks old. In December, Daisy will be six years post bone marrow transplant. She is doing extremely well, but still needs to visit Children’s Hospital once a year for a check up.

Molly’s lemonade stand is part of her fundraising towards shaving her head on October 5th in Sooke, when the Tour de Rock team rolls in to town.

If you would like to donate to Molly, CLICK HERE.

The Lemonade Stand will be outside the family restaurant, The Stone Pipe Grill in downtown Sooke, at 11 am on Monday September 5, 2011.

Follow Louise Hartland on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CTVNewsLouise