To all outward appearances, Laura Quelch and Michael Kuzik appear to be two regular members of the Canmore citizenry.
Quelch holds a real estate job, while Kuzik works for a bank. They raise their families in the Bow Valley, volunteer their time in the community and are generally no different than most mountain town residents.
But after three weeks on their bike, they are indeed changed people.
“I don’t think I’ve ever cried that much or laughed that much in three weeks. You’re just so raw. There are no masks,” Quelch said.
For three weeks in September, the Canmore cyclists powered their way across the country as part of the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride, raising money to combat children’s cancer. Kuzik and his group clocked about 150 kilometres a day, while Quelch and her group managed 220 km a day from Vancouver to Halifax, alongside doctors, parents of children with cancer and volunteers who want to help eradicate the disease.
In total, the group raised $1.5 million dollars for the charity, but, according to Kuzik, it was more than just a long ride or a fundraiser.
“There isn’t a moment of the day I don’t go back to some part of that trip, or some obstacle we overcame,” Kuzik said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever do it again, but I’ll think about it every day of my life.”
About 10,000 children in Canada are currently battling cancer, but currently less than three per cent of cancer fundraising is directed their way. It’s the leading cause of non-accidental death among children.
On the long ride, the cyclists began every day with a devotional about a child. Sometimes the child had beaten cancer, other times the story was of a child who had died. But the riders saw first hand the devastating power the disease can have, as well as the remarkable strength exhibited by the children.
“We had the easy part. We just had to ride a bike. Compared to what kids have to go through… I had no idea how debilitating chemotherapy is to a child compared to an adult. Because they’re young, it has debilitating effects for the rest of their life,” Kuzik said.
Quelch is a former Ironman triathlete and TransRockies veteran, but hasn’t raced seriously since 2005, after her children were born. This was her longest ride, and was inspired by a local family and their battle with cancer.
“It’s an incredible way to see the country. To have a likeminded group who wants to make a difference in the lives of families struggling through cancer treatment is remarkable,” Quelch said.
Because the group moved at a quick pace (about 32-35 km/h), Kuzik said there was “no dogging it,” so his view was different.
“If someone asked me what the scenery was like, I couldn’t tell them, because you’re focused on the butt or wheel of the person in front of you,” joked Kuzik. “But that’s not the primary reason.”
Getting up at 5 a.m. and sometimes not hitting the pillow until midnight on some nights, both said their bodies held up well against the daily grind. The ride was fully-supported and the camaraderie on the road was outstanding for 19 days. The ride stopped at hospitals, cancer wards and allowed riders to meet caregivers and doctors helping the children.
“The one thing I realized is a team is far stronger than an individual. Before we started, we didn’t know one another. Almost immediately, you realize you can do things you can’t do as an individual,” Kuzik said.
“One thing became obvious – it’s OK to cry and it’s OK to hug.”
There were many emotional days and obstacles. Quelch had seven flats and a few mechanicals, while Kuzik rode flat free. The weather was horrid, and the roads offered challenges.
“If there is one stretch of road I never want to see again on a bike, it’s Calgary to Winnipeg. It’s straight and we had a headwind the entire time. Winnipeg has the worst roads of any Canadian city and New Brunswick has the worst roads of any province,” Kuzik said.
Through it all, they relied on their teammates to carry them through.
“Our mechanic Larry would say on tough days, he’d repeat the mantra, ‘there are only mountains of the mind.’ I remember relying upon that quite a bit through the journey,” Quelch said.
Emotionally, arriving at the Terry Fox memorial was the toughest day for many of the riders. It’s at about the halfway mark of the trip.
“So many people on the trip had lost a kid or had kids with cancer, and to stop there on Lake Superior was an emotional experience. Terry Fox was diagnosed with cancer as a child. He was a victim of childhood cancer and he’s become an icon,” Kuzik said.
The two have a new goal. Both want to find another rider who wants to take on the challenge next year. They have another fundraiser planned for Nov. 14 at the Iron Goat at 7 p.m. and are looking for volunteers.
“It will change your life,” Kuzik said. “You know you’re going to become a better person. Some aspects have sped up: empathy, teamwork.”
“You realize everything you do makes a difference, but it starts with you,” Quelch said. “I’d do it again – in a heartbeat.”
To inquire about the ride, email [email protected] or [email protected].
