Thousands of riders take to Strathmore streets for annual Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer ride

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Approximately 2,300 cyclists flocked to Strathmore over the weekend to participate in the annual Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer fundraiser.

Prior to even the start of the weekend, the tour smashed its own previous fundraising records, bringing in over $12 million for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. 

“We are just blown away by the generosity of Albertans this year. We have been doing this ride for 18 years, (and) last year we raised $9.4 million, which was the highest we had raised in 17 years,” said Krystal Clements, director of community engagement with the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

“The total is amazing but seeing that impact firsthand with riders who are there because of the money and the clinical trials is more impactful for me … we have riders who wouldn’t be here today and wouldn’t be riding if it weren’t for the money raised and the clinical trials and research that is happening in this province.”

The two-day event consisted of several options for distances cyclists were able to sign up for. These included 60, 100, or 160 km rides, each taking off from, then returning to the Strathmore Agricultural Society grounds. 

Over the course of the event’s history, this year included, the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer has raised over $123 million for research throughout the province. 

“We are the fundraising partner for all 17 cancer centres in the province. We also fund the Patient Financial Assistance Program, and the Patient Navigation Program, which is for rural and Indigenous patients,” explained Clements. “We fund all clinical trials, partially at least, in the province … last week we announced that we are going to invest $35 million back into cancer care for clinical trials and research over the next five years in Alberta.”

Riders were required to register for the event online and commit to raising $2,500 to contribute. This was regardless of whether they opted to ride by themselves or as part of a team.

A local Strathmore team, the Sod Busters, included the Tour’s oldest rider, Doug Risdon, which raised over $31,000 this year alone for the ride.

“The more that I think about how important the event is, the people I’ve met … the stories you hear when you see people are riding for loved ones, family, friends, colleagues, themselves, you hear their stories and think everybody’s story matters,” said Heidi Panych, Enbridge’s featured rider this year who herself is battling breast cancer. “We are coming together collectively to tell complete strangers that they are not alone and we are riding with them, and I think that is pretty powerful.”

The Alberta Cancer Foundation maintains open donation pages throughout the year for interested parties to contribute directly, or donations may be submitted to help finance the next year’s Tour Alberta ride. Automatic tax receipts are sent to donors following their contributions.