Hundreds of cyclists set for Cypress Mountain trek to raise pancreatic cancer awareness

Hundreds of cyclists will hit the road this weekend for an epic climb to raise money for pancreatic cancer research.

Some 800 cyclists are preparing to trek up Cypress Mountain to raise money for pancreatic cancer research and care this weekend.

For 18 years, the Cypress Challenge has taken place in West Vancouver and is said to have grown into the largest privately funded fundraising event for pancreatic cancer in Canada.

On Sunday, dozens of teams will embark on the 12 km. journey up the steep terrain in an attempt to add to the more than $5.2 million raised over the years.

The BC Cancer Foundation estimates around 800 British Columbians will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and it’s projected that only 10 per cent of them will live another five years after that.

West Vancouver resident and cyclist Anthony Thomas was diagnosed with the disease on Labour Day last year.

Thomas explained to CTV News on Friday that he began feeling a sharp pain in his lower back while on a road trip back from B.C.’s Interior and was struck with nausea and felt ill.

His wife Carolyn urged him to pull over and find care in Whistler, where they rushed to the emergency department.

Thomas explained that after receiving tests, they found he had kidney stones, but also discovered masses on his pancreas and liver. After an MRI he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“It’s been a challenging year, for sure, because I felt completely normal and fine,” said Thomas.

He was diagnosed with neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer, a form he was told is rare but manageable.

“It’s still bad, it’s pancreatic cancer, but there are much better chances of getting through it,” said Thomas.

“When I found that out I really felt like I’d won the lottery.”

Since the diagnosis, Thomas and his family have raised more than $50,000 for pancreatic cancer research and are looking to grow that number this weekend during the Cypress Challenge.

Donations can be made on the Cypress Challenge website.