‘Like an addiction’: Kids Cancer Care Ride of Courage kickstarted a dad’s love for cycling

Bryan Duguid liked cycling just fine before he discovered Kids Cancer Care’s annual ride to raise funds and awareness.

But taking part really woke something up in him.

Since that first ride, which was in 2008, he estimates he’s done it 16 times.

He also spent the better part of a decade on the organization’s board of directors.

“It seemed like a really meaningful organization,” he said.

“Between what it was doing and how it was doing it, and also that cycling connection, I just felt myself drawn to it.”

It was called the Tour for Kids back when Duguid started, but you’d know it today as the Ride of Courage.

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.

Whether Duguid can take part this year is still a bit up in the air.

But he remains hopeful.

“I signed up in January for it like I always do, and then in February, I had a pretty major cycle crash,” he said.

“I’m recovering from that right now.”

Duguid says he’s recovering faster than expected but isn’t quite there yet.

“It’s been a little tough, with the spring weather hitting and not being able to be out on the road yet,” he said.

“I’m hoping in about three weeks I can get back on a cycle, and that’ll give me enough time to get ready.”

Anyone who’s taken part in the Ride of Courage will tell you it’s not easy.

But Duguid figures the challenge is part of what keeps people coming back.

He says that first year he did it, in 2008, was tough for him.

“I’d never done anything like that before and we had some really strong headwinds, especially on the first day,” he said.

“I was just trying to figure out how to get through that day.”

Duguid says the camaraderie among riders will help pull a person through the worst of it.

That, and the children.

Duguid’s a dad to two kids himself.

“You just think about what the kids are dealing with and the battle that they’ve been fighting,” he said.

“You just keep going.”

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.