A group of cyclists will ride into the city this week with an important goal – to give all Campbell River kids equal opportunity to play sports.
Cyclists representing the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Program, a national charity that helps financially disadvantaged kids participate in sport and recreation, will be in Campbell River this Friday. As part of their tour, the 24 riders from across Canada will distribute sports kits for local kids.
“Campbell River kits will include a badminton set, a bocce ball set, skipping, soccer and yoga,” said Katie McCabe, Canadian Tire Marketing and Events Manager.
The cyclists will present the kits to the Campbell River Multicultural and Immigrant Centre which will distribute the kits to those in need. The cyclists will then head to Canadian Tire, arriving around 11:30 a.m. for a small celebration event. Darrell Anderson, local Canadian Tire General Manager, said there will be a raffle for a new bike outside the store, weather permitting.
“It’s for a good cause,” Anderson said. “It’s certainly good to get kids involved in sports and it’s quite an undertaking because it is a long ride in a short amount of time.”
The group will ride from Victoria to Vancouver, covering 500 kilometres in five days. The group – which is pedalling through B.C. for the first time – hopes to raise $200,000.