Clifford Lang grew up in Powell River, a community where he lived most of his life. He moved to Squamish a few years ago, yet still holds his hometown in his heart.
At 62, Lang is well down the road of healthy changes. With his move to Squamish he shed weight and jumped on a bicycle. Now, riding is a way of life and he averages 70 to 80 kilometres per day over three to four hours.
He is putting his three-year-old sport to good use and raising funds to combat cancer. “This year I will be riding for cancer research and will ride from Vancouver, BC to Seattle, Washington,” he said in an email to the Peak.
He is raising $2,500 for The Ride to Conquer Cancer and is already two-thirds toward his total. His fundraising ride is on August 29 and 30 and all money pulled together by participants remains in BC and benefits the BC Cancer Foundation.
He chose to support cancer research to give back to his communities. “Cancer to me is a sad and very touching disease,” he wrote. “It hurts when you lose loved ones and very close friends with this disease.”
With riding, Lang has changed his diet. He has totally removed red meat, bread and almost all potatoes from his intake, and replaced them with fish, white chicken, fruit and nuts. “I have a protein shake, I like my chocolate, and I add blueberries and two or three strawberries.” The protein kicks in and helps give him energy for uphill climbs. “And lots of water to keep hydrated,” he added.
He has found a solid community of cyclists in Squamish and they go for evening rides together. All are covered by Cycling BC insurance in case of crashes.
“Please donate and help me achieve my goal,” said Lang. Readers can support him on his website and he is grateful for any support. “If you know somebody with this disease, I am riding for them.”
