Vancouver clubs donating cover for Ride to Conquer Cancer

Five downtown Vancouver nightclubs have been donating one dollar per cover charge to the Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Heading to a downtown Vancouver club this weekend? A portion of your cover charge may be going to a good cause.

Event promoters Blueprint has been donating one dollar per cover charge to the Ride to Conquer at five nightclubs since June 1.

Cover ranges from $5 to $15 at the clubs, which include Shine, Venue, Celebrities, Charles Bar and Caprice, though it’s often waived for women before 11 p.m.

The fundraiser ends the day before the ride, on June 14.

Blueprint co-owner Bill Kerasiotis and eight staff members will cycle as Team Blueprint in the 200-kilometre charity event to support those affected by cancer.

Kerasiotis rides to commemorate his father who died of lung cancer in 2008.

“This effort was something that resonated with so many of our staff – it is just too big of a disease to ignore and sadly, it has affected most of us,” he said in an email to CTV News.

The goal is to raise $50,000 for the June 15-16 ride, Kerasiotis said, and they’ve raised almost $27,000 in donations so far.

In January, Blueprint merged with The Adelphia Group.

Kerasiotis has led teams the past two years, though this is the first year the newly merged company is donating money from cover charges.

Last year, a 16-person Blueprint Events team managed to raise $77,500 for the Ride to Conquer Cancer charity event.

“It’s a very gratifying experience,” Kerasiotis said.

In B.C., the ride starts in Vancouver and goes through Seattle. In 2012, 3,011 riders participated.