'Cops For Kids' Ride Comes to Rossland
By Rossland Telegraph
COPS FOR KIDS is a charitable organization that raises funds to assist children “who have suffered a medical, physical or traumatic crisis in their young lives.” One of the fundraising and awareness-raising events is a 10-day bicycle tour around south-eastern BC. This year, the ride starts in Kelowna on Friday, September 9, with 28 riders and 7 support people from the RCMP and supporting enforcement agencies in the South East District. They expect to roll into Rossland on Sunday, September 11, at about 2:00 pm, and to gather at Ferraro Foods. This is the 15th annual Cops For Kids Ride.
The cycling cops will be pedaling over Anarchist Mountain and the Paulson Summit; they will face whatever weather the season throws their way, and some of it could be harsh. The hardships of the ride will remind the officers of the challenges faced by the children they want to benefit, and keep them focused on completing their journey — to help some children complete their own journeys. To view a map of their route, click this link and scroll down a bit.
Along their route, children who will benefit from fundraising — called “Little Ambassadors” — will meet with the team in several communities. For President Gail Harrison, these little faces serve as a reminder of why we must all work together to fill the gap for funding needs. “We’re seeing families in tough situations when tragedy strikes their family. A family can’t plan for a crisis, so it’s important that Cops for Kids can be there financially when they need us most.”
This year, the team includes a large contingent from the Kootenay region. BC Sheriffs Rob Crowder and Mike Kosof are joined again this year by Karen Armstrong from the Nelson RCMP Detachment, along with rookies Cst. Bill Long of the Nelson RCMP, and Cst. Eva Harding of the Trail RCMP. The group has been training all summer, and they’re excited to hit the road bringing them into their home communities. “It’s a privilege to give back to the community where I’ve been posted,” states Harding. “Becoming a police officer is about helping others in their time of need, and this ride is going to be a great test of our mental and physical strength. Ferraro Foods helped me raise a large portion of my minimum $2,000 in order to be a part of the Cops for Kids team, and I’m honored that they are going to welcome us into Rossland.”
The team will also travel through Castlegar, Nelson, Creston, Cranbrook, Radium Hot Springs, Golden, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Kamloops and Vernon on its way back to Kelowna on September 18th.
