Written by SCOTT STANFIELD
Citizen staff
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Sunday, 20 July 2008 |
Albert Portillo, one of the Texas 4000 riders, cycles down First Avenue. (Citizen photo by Brent Braaten)
The college has donated 19 rooms at its residence that will accommodate the first group of riders participating in the Texas 4000 for Cancer. The Rockies group departed June 7 from Austin, Tex.
"The college is more than happy to lend a hand to these fine young athletes and their worthy cause," CNC president John Bowman said.
In past years, Texas 4000 cyclists have been billeted in Prince George.
"They all have their own room," organizer Dorrie Sharcott said. "It will be such a treat for them. Like going to a hotel."
The cyclists arrived in Prince George Sunday. After a day of rest Monday, they pedal 60 miles to Vanderhoof on Tuesday. Their journey ends Aug. 14 in Sutton, Alaska.
This is the fifth year of the Texas 4000, which raises money for the American Cancer Society and the MD Anderson Cancer Centre at the University of Texas. The cyclists, who are mostly university students, are split into two groups, one of which travels through the Rocky mountains while the other heads north via the West Coast. The Coastal group is in Prince George July 29 and 30. Both teams will cycle the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, then hook up in Whitehorse and pedal the last stages together to Anchorage.
"To take on 4,500 miles is almost unfathomable," said Sharcott, an avid cyclist who became involved when she was asked to billet some of the riders in a previous year.
She is happy to be able to give back to the cycling community.
"It's definitely well worth it," Sharcott said. "I just lost my nephew (16-year-old Dylan) about six weeks ago to cancer. He'd been fighting for 14 years. So it's really close to me."
Texas 4000 participants have all been touched in some way by cancer. Each rider needs to raise at least $4,000. Over the past five years, the event has garnered upwards of $1.1 million.
For more information, check www.texas4000.org.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 September 2008 )
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