‘A large footprint’: Planning Kids Cancer Care ride route takes months

Paul Boucher started his relationship with Kids Cancer Care and its fundraising ride about a decade and a half ago. (Courtesy: Paul Boucher)

From February right up until the Kids Cancer Care Ride of Courage in July, maps cover most surfaces in Paul Boucher’s home.

The local intensive care physician started his relationship with the organization about a decade and a half ago as a rider.

Back then, it was the Tour for Kids. He got involved through friends.

Somewhere along the way, Boucher says, he got involved in planning routes as well.

“It’s a great weekend, and it’s such a good cause,” he said.

July 10 to 12, cyclists will take to the Alberta foothills, testing their endurance for the cause on either a three-day, two-day or one-day journey.

Dollars raised send kids affected by cancer to Kids Cancer Care’s Camp Kindle in Water Valley, Alta.

He’s done it enough times, he says, that there aren’t a lot of surprises left for him as far as the actual riding.

But planning out the ride can still get him.

“The permitting process is always a bit of a challenge,” he said. “It deals with four counties and the province, so it’s a lot of moving parts.

“The ride covers almost two per cent of Alberta, so it’s a large footprint.”

Boucher provided CTV News with this year’s planned routes.

All of them are pending final approval, but he says it gives an idea of what lies ahead for riders and those thinking about riding.

Those can be found online, here.

Boucher says he’s been fortunate in that he doesn’t have a personal connection to cancer.

He says the ride has become a means to help in a way he’s not always able to as a doctor.

“I stuck with it because I like the charity,” he said.

“It’s the kind of charity where you’re giving back to people to give them joy and happiness in their lives.

“That means something to me.”

The ride’s known to be a challenge, and Boucher says that’s sort of the point.

He says it “brings meaning to what you’re doing.”

“They say, ‘Look at what (the kids and families) are going through—I can challenge myself and get this done,” he said.

“You sort of draw inspiration from the folks that the charity’s benefiting.

Information on how to fundraise for or donate to the 2026 Ride of Courage is available at kidscancercare.ab.ca.

The tour of the foothills includes accommodations, meals, a jersey and more, Kids Cancer Care said.