Massages for cancer

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

Despite saying he may take a year off after the 2014 ride, Armand Pinel once again finds himself drawn to return to the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer. His father, who is one of his inspirations, lost his battle to the disease in 2014 after a 14-year-long fight.
“What keeps making me go back is just the fact that I’ve known a lot of people in my life, personally, close to me, or even just through people I know, that are affected by this,” said Pinel.
“I just think that they need funds to kind of keep working and make progress. I have read up on some progress that has been made in certain areas and to me it just makes it feel worth it to continue giving my support.”
This is the fifth year for Pinel doing the ride, and this time he’s trying something new to raise funds for the Enbridge Ride, which benefits the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
Pinel is a registered massage therapist with the Wellness Within Centre and on March 29, for 12 hours straight, he will be offering 30 minute massages for a minimum $45 donation.
“All of that would go to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, so as soon as I was done with that person I would put the donation through right then and there online. Then they would have a donation tax receipt e-mailed to them by the Alberta Cancer Foundation,” said Pinel.
“I was just trying to think of a way to get some donations, in but also have people get something out of it at the same time.”
Because it is only one day, Pinel is offering an incentive for those who want to donate but maybe can’t make it in on the 29.
“Even if you want to support what I’m doing and you can’t make it that day, as long as you do a donation on that day I will basically just give what will be an equivalent of a half hour massage voucher to use at a later date,” said Pinel.
You can donate online that day at www.conquercancer.ca/goto/armand. Afterwards, contact Pinel so he can make sure your name is put down for the voucher.
His hope is to raise $1,000 from the massages. They will be done at the Wellness Within Centre (118 2nd Ave) and people can pre-book by e-mailing him armand@strathmoremassage.com or by phone, either calling or texting 403-324-1783. The ride takes place Aug. 8-9, and is over a 200km journey.