Saanich students give 2025 Tour de Rock team a rockstar welcome

Eighteen Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock riders have pledged to train, ride and fundraise for the 28th annual Canadian Cancer Society event to help families affected by childhood cancer.

“We’ve been training for two months and today is the day where it actually feels real,” says rider Shea MacKenzie.

The registered nurse joins the team with a will to pay it forward after receiving recovery support for a breast cancer diagnosis in 2023.

“Every kid deserves to have the best treatment possible,” says MacKenzie.

Students at St. Margaret’s School in Saanich hosted the team launch Friday with roars of applause – as members from law enforcement, first responders and guest riders from up and down Vancouver Island stepped up to receive their training jersey, sponsored by Applewood Auto Group.

“I’m so honoured to be part of the 2025 team. It’s an amazing, awesome feeling,” says rider Rafael Fuentes.

He’s been an honorary member of the Tour de Rock family since 2012 – a year before his daughter died of Leukemia at the age of two.

“I’m just trying to absorb everything and all of the emotions that come with it. I’m obviously riding for Madrona,” he says.

The team’s fundraising efforts support life-saving childhood cancer research and programs such as Camp Goodtimes.

“We’re hoping to raise $1 million again here on Vancouver Island. That’s been a normal thing for Tour de Rock for many years,” says Canadian Cancer Society’s Matthew Campbell.

CCS says there’s “huge” demand for Camp Goodtimes, which is running a waitlist to help send families affected by cancer to the camp.

“I only got to go once, but it was a week that I will never forget. It just provides that joy for kids to just be kids,” says honorary member rider Kyla Hugli. “I didn’t feel judged. I didn’t have to be insecure. We just got to kind of put our reality to the side and just have fun.”

Hugli visited Camp Goodtimes when she was a child. She was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2004 at the age of 12 – and is now 31 years old and living cancer-free. She says it’s heartwarming to see the ongoing support for Tour de Rock.

“Just based off my experience, it gave me that extra boost to fight,” says Hugli.

After training three times per week and fundraising through the summer, the team will cycle 1,200 kilometres down the length of Vancouver Island from Sept. 20 to Oct. 3, adding to their fundraised efforts.

According to CCS, it’s estimated 1,000 children aged 0-14 in Canada are diagnosed with cancer every year. Since its inaugural event in 1997, Tour de Rock has raised approximately $30 million.