Archive for year: 2022

After two years, the annual Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer, Alberta’s largest cycling fundraiser, shifts back to an in person event, supporting breakthrough cancer research and care at the 17 cancer centres across Alberta.

July 23, 2022 – Alberta – After two years of cancelled events and virtual rides, the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer is back for its 14th annual ride. This year, riders will journey up to 200 kilometres over two days throughout southern Alberta. So far, almost 900 participants (both in-person and virtual) have helped to raise $3.6M for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Fundraising for the event will continue through the weekend and until July 24, 2022.

For the last 14 years, the Tour has supported local cancer research, clinical trials, enhanced care and the discovery of new cancer therapies at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Cross Cancer Institute and 15 other centres across Alberta. While some things may have changed over the pandemic, like virtual rides and fundraising events, every day nearly 60 Albertans continue to hear the words, “you have cancer.” This year’s event is back in person, with the option to walk, run or cycle virtually, and is once again bringing riders together to help raise money to support Albertans and their families facing cancer.

As the province’s largest cycling fundraiser and one of Canada’s largest peer-to-peer fundraising event, the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer (formerly known as the Ride to Conquer Cancer) continues to raise money for innovative cancer research and care in Alberta.

“It’s been two long years without an in person event. We’re excited to bring our community together again to celebrate their hard work and make a difference for Albertans facing cancer,” said Wendy Beauchesne, CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

“We are so grateful for this inspirational community of riders, donors and partners like Enbridge who are dedicated to providing real-life returns to patients across the province. Dollars raised will continue to support the 17 cancer centres across the province and provide Albertans with access to world-class research, treatment and care.”

Enbridge has been the title sponsor of Tour Alberta for Cancer since 2010, and this year is no different. The dedicated Enbridge team of 250 participants has raised more than $600,000 to support programs, groundbreaking research and awareness for the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

“We need to continue to come out, to fundraise and support research that will make a difference,” said Vern Yu, Executive Vice President Corporate Development & CFO. “We’re proud to be the title sponsor of the Tour Alberta, which has an unparalleled impact on cancer outcomes for Albertans.”

Without the support and dedication of riders like Jeff Buchan from Drayton Valley, the success of the ride would not be possible. Jeff decided to join the Tour and raise money after his son, Brody, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. “The Tour Alberta for Cancer is a way I can make a difference, it’s something positive I can do to distract me from the helplessness while Brody fights his battle,” shares Jeff. “Since Brody was diagnosed, I’ve learned that cancer touches all of us in some way. This community of people is taking action to make things better for the next person, the next family, to ease their suffering.”

About the Alberta Cancer Foundation

The Alberta Cancer Foundation directly supports the 17 cancer centres across the province, including the new Calgary Cancer Centre and the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary and Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. Our purpose is to create more moments for Albertans facing cancer by inspiring our community to give to innovation in detection, treatment and care. Thanks to the generosity of our donors we are able to invest in research and care initiatives that will provide real-life returns for Albertans facing cancer. We support every Albertan, no matter what type of cancer they face or where they live in the province.

About Enbridge Inc.

At Enbridge, we safely connect millions of people to the energy they rely on every day, fueling quality of life through our North American natural gas, oil or renewable power networks and our growing European offshore wind portfolio. We’re investing in modern energy delivery infrastructure to sustain access to secure, affordable energy and building on two decades of experience in renewable energy to advance new technologies including wind and solar power, hydrogen, renewable natural gas and carbon capture and storage. We’re committed to reducing the carbon footprint of the energy we deliver, and to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Enbridge’s common shares trade under the symbol ENB on the Toronto (TSX) and New York (NYSE) stock exchanges. To learn more, visit us at enbridge.com.

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For media inquiries, contact:

Phoebe Dey
VP Communications & Marketing
Alberta Cancer Foundation
(780) 700-6120

Mireille Farkouh
Communications Manager
Alberta Cancer Foundation
(780) 886 8785

Over the past seven years, RBC has fundraised more than $730K to bring hope to Albertans facing cancer and is one of the Tour’s Northern Lights sponsors. This year, they aim to raise another $100K with the support of Team RBC.

Sean Baylis is one of the team’s captains and will be participating in his ninth Tour this year. He’s riding in honour of his colleague Kelly Mitchell, and Team RBC member Nancy Barnes, who sadly passed from cancer. As he explains, this cause is important to him because he has “fought this terrible disease, and watched it take a terrible toll on many family members and friends.”

Already equipped with a love for cycling prior to his first event, Sean was originally inspired to take on the challenge by his colleague Tyson MacDonald.

With nearly a decade of Tour experience, he knows that long-distance rides are best approached in small increments.

Sean will be joining us in-person at the Calgary Polo Club on July 23 and 24, and cycling 200km. His advice for first-time Tour-goers is to “Train in increments of 50, 60, 70, 80, and 100km rides.”

Over the past few months, his training routine has included riding the beautiful Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail that connects Canmore and Banff, while also working in daily Peloton sessions.

He looks forward to connecting with the thousands of riders who will be present in support of the courageous Albertans facing cancer both during the ride and at its festivities, and hearing the impactful stories that have brought so many participants there. He’s garnered some of his greatest memories from his involvement with the Tour over the past nine years.

Thank you to Sean and all of Team RBC for your continuous support and contributions.

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As the Tour’s title partner, Enbridge is dedicated to bringing more moments to Albertans facing cancer. Over the past 14 years, they have raised more than $6.3 million to fund world-class care and research.  

A part of Team Enbridge, Max Chan and Ben Tsui are two of our top fundraisers for 2022. With the help of their team, they have set out to raise another $300,000 this year—a goal they quickly surpassed. 

On July 23 and 24, Max Chan plans to mountain bike 100km as a virtual participant.  

Max originally became involved with the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer five years ago, when he joined as a volunteer. This will be his second year participating in the ride, which he considers “a celebration of the progress we have made towards battling cancer and more personally, another opportunity for me to celebrate beating cancer.” 

In 2020, Max was diagnosed with kidney cancer, which he has thankfully recovered from. Although he volunteered his time to the cause years previously, the last two Tours have taken on a personal significance for Max, and driven him to push his fundraising potential even further.  

He took to his own route last year, and with a friend by his side, pedaled to the top of Panorama, a picturesque terrain located in the Purcell Mountains of southeastern British Columbia. He has prepared for 2022’s Tour by consistently training and maintaining a keen focus on his fundraising efforts.  

Ben Tsui will be joining us in-person at the Calgary Polo Club, and cycling 200km on July 23 and 24.  

Like Max, Ben first became involved with the Tour as a volunteer. He was an avid mountain biker at the time, but a year later, bought his first road bike and has ridden in every event since.  

In 2014, Ben noticed a lump near his jaw while shaving. He was diagnosed with a cancerous parotid tumor, which was surgically removed. “I’m in a place now to share my story,” he says. “I hope that it helps others not only seek help but get treatment–I consider myself a poster boy for early detection.” His experience motivated him to fundraise to beat cancer, however, he also rides for his mother who is currently undergoing chemotherapy, his mother-in-law who is a survivor, and his friends and colleagues who face this disease.  

Due to the pandemic, Ben took his own route last year as well. He rode alongside his teammates through the Bow Valley Parkway between Banff and Lake Louise and explains that “the friendship was as spectacular as the views. I only expect the [camaraderie I experienced] to be dialed up this year [at the in-person event] as we tackle new roads with other teams.” 

Being a year-round cyclist, he prepared for 2022’s Tour by adding more structure to his training regimen in the winter months. He looks forward to the positive energy and emotion that will be present on July 23 and 24, and seeing all the friendly faces that will come out to show their support.  

Max and Ben’s advice for riders taking on the challenge for the first time:  

“Everyone has their own personal reasons for why this is important to you. Don’t lose sight of that. It’s not just about the distance, but raising awareness and funds for this important cause.” 

– Max Chan

“Dress right, fuel right. But ultimately, there is no substitute for ‘seat time.’ Get your rear end used to spending time in the saddle.” 

– Ben Tsui  

Thank you to Max, Ben, and all of Team Enbridge for your continuous support and contributions. 

 

Interested in sharing why you Tour with our community?