Hours before sunrise last Saturday, a group of 110 cyclists started one of the more intense 香蕉视频直播� yet rewarding 香蕉视频直播� rides of their lives.

They香蕉视频直播檝e been preparing for the Ride2Survive event since February, and some struggled to complete a 40-km ride in the beginning.

Now, after months of exhaustive training and mental preparation, the group completed a 388-km ride through some of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 most difficult terrain, leaving Kelowna at 3:30 a.m. and arriving in Delta at 10:20 p.m. 香蕉视频直播� 40 minutes ahead of schedule.

For the home-stretch of the gruelling ride 香蕉视频直播� which has a total elevation climb of more than 3,600 metres (three times the height of Grouse Mountain) 香蕉视频直播� men and women wearing yellow jerseys moved to the front of the pack.

Those riders, and many like them sitting on the sidelines, in hospitals, or unable to attend, are the reason this ride exists.

They are cancer survivors.

Training captain Rich Gestle, from North Delta, was one of the riders wearing yellow.

Gestle had stage-three thyroid cancer 12陆 years ago. After two surgeries and two rounds of radiation, he was cleared of the disease and joined the Ride2Survive 香蕉视频直播渏ust to see what it was like.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭hen just seeing the community that was involved, it just hooked me,香蕉视频直播� he told Peace Arch News last week.

Through the years, Gestle said he香蕉视频直播檚 heard countless stories of people beating cancer.

香蕉视频直播淭o hear the victories is always encouraging and it香蕉视频直播檚 getting better all the time,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲hat was a diagnosis 15-20 years ago and that outcome is not what it is today. Today, the survivor rate and everything is getting much better. There are still harder cancers to fight, like brain cancer and pancreatic cancer. We香蕉视频直播檝e been trying to target our money to those.香蕉视频直播�

Money raised through this year香蕉视频直播檚 Ride2Survive event is dedicated to the . As of PAN press time Thursday morning, the group had surpassed their $600,000 by $30,000.

Event organizers Kerry Kunzli and his wife Vicki said this year香蕉视频直播檚 event was the best they香蕉视频直播檝e had since it was founded 13 years ago.

Kunzli said the riding conditions were perfect, although the heat was 香蕉视频直播渉ard on people, a lot of people got beat up because of the heat.香蕉视频直播� Kunzli said every rider has his or her own way to endure the physical and mental strain.

香蕉视频直播淪ome of the riders will write the names of loved ones on their legs so they can see them. Some put pictures on the top tube of the bike so when they look down they will be reminded of why they香蕉视频直播檙e doing it,香蕉视频直播� Kunzli said.

香蕉视频直播淥ver the years, I香蕉视频直播檝e been riding, I香蕉视频直播檓 hurting, my legs are tired and going up a big long hill. I come up beside a guy who was on chemo six months earlier and he香蕉视频直播檚 got a big smile on his face, he香蕉视频直播檚 having a great day even though it香蕉视频直播檚 hard香蕉视频直播� You realize, holy crap, they are so happy to be here 香蕉视频直播� period 香蕉视频直播� let alone worrying about a little work on a climb.香蕉视频直播�

South Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 Simone Porter participated in the ride for the second time.

She said she was inspired to reenlist this year due to the brotherhood, determination of the group and dedication from the event organizers.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 kind of an elevated spirit, being around these people. That香蕉视频直播檚 the only way I can describe it. They don香蕉视频直播檛 just say it, they live it,香蕉视频直播� Porter told PAN.

Approximately 800 people welcomed the riders 香蕉视频直播� which ranged in age from 17 to 70 香蕉视频直播� into North Delta on Saturday.

Over the years, the event has raised approximately $6 million.