Even after cycling close to 100 kilometres, 10-year-old Ava Caldwell seemed no worse for the wear at Nesters Market in 撸奶社区on May 31.
The Pemberton resident made a short stop in 撸奶社区to take a breather on her 265 km bike ride from the Spud Valley to Courtenay on Vancouver Island.
The lengthy bike trip isn't for general exercise. Caldwell is taking on the trip to help her friend Ruby Poirier in her battle with leukemia.
"She thinks it's pretty awesome," Caldwell's brother Richard said of her friend's thoughts on the trip, while taking a breather in Squamish. "The ride is going pretty good and it's been really cool to see how many people in 撸奶社区are helping me out and donating."
The Ride for Ruby saw Richard Caldwell and Ava's parents travel down the Sea to Sky Highway from Pemberton to Horseshoe Bay. After reaching Vancouver Island, the family planned to head to Poirier's house in Courtenay.
Richard said this is definitely the most bike riding Ava has ever done but said a steady diet of Clif Bars and lots of hydration is helping to fuel her.
It all got underway on May 30 with Richard and her family leaving Pemberton and heading to Whistler. After one night in Whistler they left town at around 9 a.m. on Friday and arrived at Nesters Market in 撸奶社区at roughly 4:30 p.m. The family spent a night in 撸奶社区before heading to Horseshoe Bay on June 1.
She said on her blog that the experience in 撸奶社区was memorable.
"Yesterday we rode from Whistler to 撸奶社区and it was hard," she said. "Thank you everyone from 撸奶社区for your amazing support and the send off this morning."
While in Squamish, Richard also met Freida Palethorpe, Baby Lina's older sister. Palethorpe gave Richard a picture she drew and Richard said learning about Baby Lina inspired her to do more for those battling illness.
"Today I met a little girl named Freida. She's five, super sweet, and drew me a nice picture," Richard stated on her blog. "Freida has a little sister named Lina, she is two and has had cancer since she was six weeks old. It makes me sad to realize other kids like Ruby are sick with cancer. So I think its just so sad and I thought that I could do a fundraiser every year for kids with cancer."
Richard and her family reached Ruby's house on Monday, June 3, having raised a total of $4,200 for Ruby and her family. For more information on the trip, visit www.ridingforruby.blogspot.com.
