The BC Cancer Foundation says it is ending its charity bicycle ride amid rising costs and multiple years of heat, smoke and rain exposure.
The Tour de Cure began in 2009, and over the next 16 years, raised more than $131 million for cancer research. On Tuesday, the BC Cancer Foundation said it had made the "very difficult decision" to end the ride.
Rising costs and the escalation of external risks have meant a decline in net revenue in recent years. Sarah Roth, president and CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation, said that since the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has spent a lot of time discussing ending the tour.
“I think most events really suffered after that, and we've spent a lot of time talking,” she said.
For years, the cyclists would ride into the United States, but since 2018, participants rode through the Fraser Valley from Cloverdale to Hope. Four of the past six rides have faced extreme heat, smoke or rain events, said Roth.
“That’s very challenging when you’re putting a mass event and very concerned about rider safety,” she said. “When you have lots of people gathering and riding bikes for 200 kilometres, safety has to be the top priority.”
This year’s opening ceremony had to be moved indoors due to a rainfall warning that left some riders with hypothermia.
“People slip. It increases the likelihood of health risk,” Roth added.
The year before, the fundraising event had to be shut down mid-ride due to smoke.
“It has been a really big challenge,” said Roth. “At the end of the day, we’re a cancer organization and we want to make sure that anyone who participates with BC Cancer Foundation is doing so in a safe and healthy environment.”
Roth notes there are many other charitable events backing similar causes, including Workout to Conquer Cancer and the Cypress Challenge, which is next slated to run July 27, 2025, and supports pancreatic cancer research at BC Cancer.
The foundation is offering full refunds of the 2025 registration fees. People need to by Nov. 30 to receive a reimbursement.
"I want to express my enormous gratitude to the Tour da Cure community,” said Roth. "How grateful we are all.”
