A Childhood cancer survivor from Cochrane, Brock Wiebe is pedalling it forward through a three-day cycling tour to help raise money for kids with cancer through Kids Cancer Care’s Ride of Courage.
From July 12 to 15, Wiebe alongside 37 other cyclists ventured between 300 and 600 kilometres, with the goal to raise $250,000 to help send Alberta children affected by cancer to camp this summer.
Wiebe, a former Cochrane Cobra, said his battle against cancer started around 10 years ago.
“When I was 16, I was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which is something no one really wants to hear,” Wiebe said. “For my treatment, I went through five rounds of chemotherapy.”
Whenever he was able to, Wiebe said he tried his best to lead a normal life. He played on the football throughout high out school career, later attending SAIT for mechanical engineering technology.
He later learned about Camp Kindle, a camp dedicated for families affected by childhood cancer, but was too old to attend. Instead, Wiebe would volunteer and later be a camp counsellor each spring and summer season while attending SAIT And UBC.
“It was the best four summers I think I’ve ever had,” Wiebe said. “It definitely changes your perspective on things, (and) I’m dealing with kids who are affected by cancer. That’s definitely what drove me more than myself being diagnosed with cancer.
“I got the cancer experience myself, but I got the experience of little children going though harder battles than I did,” he added.
For Wiebe, Ride of Courage is something he keeps close to his heart and it means the world to him. With its continuous support for families affected by childhood cancer, he appreciates all the work the organization does for kids every year.
“These kids I tell you, they go through the hardest things that someone could possibly endure, and they’re the happiest people you’ll ever meet,” he said. “They just want to be kids, and I think that’s kind of what Camp Kindle gives them for five days out of the year, that feeling of being normal and being a kid again.”
Although he reached his goal of raising $5,000 this year, Wiebe said he had never cycled before this. Leading up to the ride, he outlined that he has been training since March in preparation of the trip.
“I started biking to work this winter, as crazy enough as it sounds, and then I sign up for the Ride of Courage and the Enbridge Tour of Alberta,” Wiebe said. “I think it’s just an achievement to fundraise for Kids Cancer Care.”
In closing, Weibe said he would like to give a special thanks to his parents and his fiancé. He outlines that it was a big switch leading up to the ride, and he thanks them for their support through his journey.
