CORNER BROOK – Tonya Skanes admits she’s a new recruit to the world of cycling, but this fall she’ll have plenty of time to fine-tune her skills.
The 35-year-old Corner Brook native and current Edmonton, Alta. resident, will join 30 other cyclists on a ride from Calgary to Austin, Texas as part of this year’s Cancervive Peloton Program.
The program is part of the Cancervive Foundation of Alberta and was started in 2005 by a group of friends looking to participate in Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG event and to help raise money for cancer research and survivorship programs.
Participants commit to raise a minimum of $10,000 for the program and Wellspring cancer support houses. Each rider sponsors a cancer warrior, which is typically someone going through cancer treatment or someone who is still experiencing side effects as a result of treatment, and meets up with the warrior in time for Armstrong’s event, which varies in location each year.
Skanes’ group is working to open a Wellspring house in Calgary and expects to leave around Oct. 12 for the ride, one which is organized such that riders are divided into groups of seven.
By Jamie Bennett of The Western Star
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