Vancouver Island man’s ride for cancer research stops in Kamloops

It may still be early in MacKenzie’s cross country tour but already the retired RCMP officer has raised more than $8-thousand to go towards the Canadian Cancer Society.

“It’s day seven, I’m feeling good,” said MacKenzie. “We met a person in Surrey that I hadn’t met before, they donated $250-dollars. There was a lady parked behind us on the ferry that also donated. It’s been pretty amazing to see people donate to the cause.”

“I’m so proud of him,” said Sherry MacKenzie.

MacKenzie and his roadside warrior wife Sherry know the devastating pain of cancer all too well.

His mom died from breast cancer at the age of 40, with Sherry losing her dad to stomach cancer 12 years ago.

“We have friends we’ve lost, neighbours we’ve lost, it just seems like everybody you know there’s cancer somewhere,” said MacKenzie.

Two years ago the Vancouver Island man got the idea to bike across Canada to raise money for cancer research.

Starting in Cowichan Bay, MacKenzie is logging an average 100 kilometers a day.

“It’s a little more than my average day,” joked MacKenzie.

His final destination is Saint John, New Brunswick.

While getting there may not be easy, the retiree getting a few flat tires as well sleeping in his truck, he says it’s worth it.

“The slogan we’ve had since we started was we want more cancer survivors, less cancer and ultimately no cancer. That’s the ultimate goal.”

With approximately 93 days to go and $40-thousand more to raise, MacKenzie remains focused on the road and kicking cancer to the curb.

To donate to Dave’s campaign, click here.

by Vanessa Ybarra

Vancouver Island man’s ride for cancer research stops in Kamloops

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