Hours before sunrise last Saturday, a group of 110 cyclists started one of the more intense 91裸聊视频� yet rewarding 91裸聊视频� rides of their lives.

They91裸聊视频檝e been preparing for the Ride2Survive event since February, and some struggled to complete a 40-km ride in the beginning.

Now, after months of exhaustive training and mental preparation, the group completed a 388-km ride through some of Canada91裸聊视频檚 most difficult terrain, leaving Kelowna at 3:30 a.m. and arriving in Delta at 10:20 p.m. 91裸聊视频� 40 minutes ahead of schedule.

For the home-stretch of the gruelling ride 91裸聊视频� which has a total elevation climb of more than 3,600 metres (three times the height of Grouse Mountain) 91裸聊视频� men and women wearing yellow jerseys moved to the front of the pack.

Those riders, and many like them sitting on the sidelines, in hospitals, or unable to attend, are the reason this ride exists.

They are cancer survivors.

Training captain Rich Gestle, from North Delta, was one of the riders wearing yellow.

Gestle had stage-three thyroid cancer 12陆 years ago. After two surgeries and two rounds of radiation, he was cleared of the disease and joined the Ride2Survive 91裸聊视频渏ust to see what it was like.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭hen just seeing the community that was involved, it just hooked me,91裸聊视频� he told Peace Arch News last week.

Through the years, Gestle said he91裸聊视频檚 heard countless stories of people beating cancer.

91裸聊视频淭o hear the victories is always encouraging and it91裸聊视频檚 getting better all the time,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲hat was a diagnosis 15-20 years ago and that outcome is not what it is today. Today, the survivor rate and everything is getting much better. There are still harder cancers to fight, like brain cancer and pancreatic cancer. We91裸聊视频檝e been trying to target our money to those.91裸聊视频�

Money raised through this year91裸聊视频檚 Ride2Survive event is dedicated to the . As of PAN press time Thursday morning, the group had surpassed their $600,000 by $30,000.

Event organizers Kerry Kunzli and his wife Vicki said this year91裸聊视频檚 event was the best they91裸聊视频檝e had since it was founded 13 years ago.

Kunzli said the riding conditions were perfect, although the heat was 91裸聊视频渉ard on people, a lot of people got beat up because of the heat.91裸聊视频� Kunzli said every rider has his or her own way to endure the physical and mental strain.

91裸聊视频淪ome of the riders will write the names of loved ones on their legs so they can see them. Some put pictures on the top tube of the bike so when they look down they will be reminded of why they91裸聊视频檙e doing it,91裸聊视频� Kunzli said.

91裸聊视频淥ver the years, I91裸聊视频檝e been riding, I91裸聊视频檓 hurting, my legs are tired and going up a big long hill. I come up beside a guy who was on chemo six months earlier and he91裸聊视频檚 got a big smile on his face, he91裸聊视频檚 having a great day even though it91裸聊视频檚 hard91裸聊视频� You realize, holy crap, they are so happy to be here 91裸聊视频� period 91裸聊视频� let alone worrying about a little work on a climb.91裸聊视频�

South Surrey91裸聊视频檚 Simone Porter participated in the ride for the second time.

She said she was inspired to reenlist this year due to the brotherhood, determination of the group and dedication from the event organizers.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 kind of an elevated spirit, being around these people. That91裸聊视频檚 the only way I can describe it. They don91裸聊视频檛 just say it, they live it,91裸聊视频� Porter told PAN.

Approximately 800 people welcomed the riders 91裸聊视频� which ranged in age from 17 to 70 91裸聊视频� into North Delta on Saturday.

Over the years, the event has raised approximately $6 million.