Veteran trekkers, Powell River’s Hugo and Melissa Sloos, are looking forward to participating for the eighth and third time respectively in BC Lung Association’s Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath, an annual fundraiser in support of lung health.
But, before hitting the road on Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13, the Sloos’s make sure to put in some training time. They ride, a lot.
“We start at the beginning of the summer and slowly increase our ride distance,” said Melissa. “By the end of August, we are doing 100-kilometre rides to get a feel for what we’ll be experiencing at Trek. In Powell River we often train by riding a loop of the city, from Westview through Cranberry, Townsite and finally Grief Point.”
Melissa said she and her husband are passionate about participating in the fundraising event. “We continue to do Trek because we both feel a deep personal connection to raising awareness about lung health, and because it is a fun challenge,” she said. “Our participation is a testament to how well organized and supported, and just plain great this ride is. Hugo and I have to travel five hours each way from Powell River to Vancouver by car and ferry, and rely on friends to offer up a couch. But, we keep doing it because this is a great event and a great charity.
“We do Trek to show those with lung disease that we care, to breathe hard on the ride for those who can’t, and to show them that we support them no matter what. It’s true that if you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.”
A two-day, 200-kilometre journey from White Rock to Cultus Lake and back may seem daunting to some, but BC Lung Association organizer Marissa McFadyen said it is more of a personal challenge than a race, “Not to mention, it’s a lot of fun,” she added. “We provide a full-supported experience: our very own bike mechanic team, tons of great food, snack rest stops all along the route, evening entertainment and your very own cheerleading squad.”
BC Lung Association is a non-profit, non-governmental organization which acts as an educational resource for the general public and people living with respiratory conditions. The organization also engages in public awareness campaigns, patient support programs, community services and advanced medical research.
For more information or to register in Trek, readers can call BC Lung Association toll free at 1.800.665.5864 or visit online.
