A group of energetic residents took to the highways and streets this weekend to support healthy living.
Eight members of Prince George's Punjabi Cultural Club saddled up on their bikes for their second bike-a-thon for charity, this year making the five-hour journey to West Lake.
The group set out just after 8:30 a.m. Saturday from the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, before heading up the Hart Highway.
Last September, club members rode their bicycles the 122 kilometres to Quesnel, donating $3,575 to the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. This year, they hope to up that amount to $4,000, which is going to the Kordyban Cancer Lodge.
The $10 million, 36-bed lodge currently under construction is the fourth in the province, and will offer accommodations for patients and their caregivers coming to the Cancer Agency Centre for the North, both of which are slated to open in the fall of 2012.
Club member Atwal Harman said they chose a bike-a-thon as a means of raising money because of the health benefits of cycling.
"We want to show other people riding a bike is good for health," he said, adding they are encouraging others to join them in next year's ride.
The Punjabi Cultural Club chose to support the Kordyban Cancer Lodge because of the increase in people who are diagnosed with cancer, Harman said.
The money they donated last year went towards purchasing cancer-treatment equipment, said Don Gowan, CEO of Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.
Gowan said he was almost surprised by the generous donation the previous year, and this year has been helping the group to formalize and organize the event.
"They are just doing this for the betterment of all groups," Gowan said.
