Local rotary club hosts cross-country riders making 4,000km trip for cancer research

CHARLIE LAKE, B.C. — Bike riders travelling through the U.S. and Canada received food and board from the Rotary Club of Fort St. John as they journeyed across the Peace region. 

A total of 19 riders participated in the Texas 4,000 for Cancer’s Ozarks tour, a bicycle tour from May to July.

The riders started the tour at the University of Texas at Austin on May 16th and will travel around 4,000km through the U.S. and Canada before ending in Alaska on July 25th to raise funds for cancer research. 

The tour made its way to Dawson Creek on July 5th and Fort St. John on July 6th.

Alisha Cobbett, a rotarian with the Rotary Club of Fort St. John, said it hosted the riders for a barbecue in Charlie Lake and had them in their homes on July 6th and 7th. 

“The rotary club here likes to do a little bit more of a personal or personalized hosting and so we reach out to rotarians and open our homes to them,” said Cobbett.

Cobbett said she hosted three riders in her home and other members of the rotary club hosted at least two riders.

“You just get to share your home with them, we hung out, had some ice cream … we watched some TV and just got to chat and really connect that way, which was a wonderful opportunity,” said Cobbett. 

The club rotarian said it feels “wonderful” to help in efforts to raise money for cancer research and has several family members affected by the disease. 

“It makes me feel great,” said Cobbett. “I lost my nephew last year to stage four brain cancer [and] my mom has had cancer…and so it’s nice to be able to hear stories from other people and also know that people care, regardless of the country they live in.”

As of July 8th, the Texas 4,000 has raised $463,371.11 out of a $550,000 goal. 

Cobbett describes the Ozarks Tour as having more altitude at the beginning of its journeys and more downhill by the end. 

Donations to the Texas 4000 for Cancer can be given here.