A bike brigade chaperoned by the RCMP started in Kelowna on Friday morning and it is going to the Southern Interior for a great cause.

The 22nd annual Cops for Kids ride started just after 8 a.m. on Sept. 8 as the 24 participating riders left the Sandman Hotel in Kelowna to make their way down to Peachland. In total, the ride is 10 days long and riders will cycle nearly 1,000 kilometres. They travel the same route every year.

Since 2001, the non-profit charity has been raising money to help children who are going through a medical, physical or traumatic crisis. In that time, they91裸聊视频檝e raised more than $6.1 million, helping more than 3,100 children.

91裸聊视频淎ll the money that we raise goes to the kids within our area,91裸聊视频� said Vernon North Okanagan RCMP Cpl. Tania Finn. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檇 love to be able to support those families, so the more donations we get, the more families we can help out.91裸聊视频�

Finn also stated that so far in 2023, Cops for Kids has received 365 requests for financial assistance, which is already more than they received in all of 2022. Right now, the charity spends more than $13,000 a month to help families in need. Finn also said that with enough support from the local communities over the next 10 days during the ride, they should be able to reach their financial goal for the year.

The annual Cops of Kids charity 10-day bike ride started in ! 24 riders are going through the southeast of B.C. to raise money for children going through medical, physical, or traumatic crisis.

91裸聊视频� Jordy Cunningham (@CunninghamJordy)

This year91裸聊视频檚 riders feature current and former RCMP officers as well be members of B.C. Corrections and B.C. Sheriffs and a few members of the public. On top of working long hours during the busiest time of the year with the Grouse Complex of wildfires in the Central Okanagan, these riders have continued to find time to train for the 10-day endeavour.

91裸聊视频淭his year, for our local riders, it91裸聊视频檚 been extra challenging,91裸聊视频� said Finn. 91裸聊视频淢any of us worked the evacuations and many of the riders were even evacuated themselves. They were working long hours and still managed to train in smoky conditions in order to be prepared for this ride.91裸聊视频�

And on top of the wildfires, is the recent landslide on Highway 97 between Peachland and Summerland, which is forcing the route to have a slight detour on the opening day of the event.

91裸聊视频淯sually we ride right down Highway 97 but this year we are unable to do that so we91裸聊视频檙e going to have to load up the bikes in Peachland and drive around through Aspen Grove to Okanagan Falls where we91裸聊视频檙e going to pick up the ride again,91裸聊视频� said Finn.

91裸聊视频淲e weren91裸聊视频檛 exactly sure how this was going to look this year because of what we91裸聊视频檝e all seen happening in our communities the last few weeks, from fires to landslides. We weren91裸聊视频檛 sure if you91裸聊视频檇 be riding road bikes or mountain bikes,91裸聊视频� said RCMP Southeast District Supt. David Greig, getting a laugh from the group ahead of the ride.

West Kelowna Const. Stefanie Wainman is taking part in the event for the second time.

91裸聊视频淭his is a great cause,91裸聊视频� Wainman told Capital News. 91裸聊视频淭his is not an easy ride, the days are long but the people in the communities we visit are fantastic.91裸聊视频�

Cops For Kids has many supporting sponsors that help out every year, including Stutters Restoration, who presented a cheque to the cause during a presentation before the riders left.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 economic chaos, there91裸聊视频檚 political chaos, there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of chaos around us and the best antidote to chaos is a little bit of hope,91裸聊视频� said Stutters Restorations vice president Cameron Stutters. 91裸聊视频淲hen families are going through a hard time and there91裸聊视频檚 a loved one or a little one that91裸聊视频檚 sick, there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of chaos in that home. Today as you ride, you bring a little bit of hope to those families facing challenges.91裸聊视频�

The 10-day challenge is going through 26 communities and will stop to meet kids and families Cops for Kids has helped out at each stop.

91裸聊视频淲e really appreciate everyone91裸聊视频檚 support along the road,91裸聊视频� added Finn. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檇 love the community to come out and cheer us on.91裸聊视频�

READ MORE: RCMP seek public91裸聊视频檚 help in finding missing pregnant Lake Country woman

READ MORE: Warmer temperatures to bring 91裸聊视频榗rossover conditions91裸聊视频� to McDougall Creek wildfire

jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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