Lethbridge pair cycling to fight kids’ cancer

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on July 27, 2024.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Local cyclists Dayna Daniels and Bente Hansen will be riding to fight kids cancer through the Great Cycle Challenge Canada during the month of August.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

During the month of August two Lethbridge residents are joining the Great Cycle Challenge Canada to fight kids’ cancer among hundreds of Albertans and thousands of Canadians alike.

Dayna Daniels and Bente Hansen are among the 69 riders who are part of the Lethbridge Chapter which at the moment is ranking fourth in the province with $7,432 raised so far this year. While Alberta is ranking second nation wide with a total of $175,025 so far, behind Ontario with $770,669 raised as of Friday.

For Daniels this will be her seventh year participating in the challenge after finding out about it on social media, while it would be the fourth year for Hansen who was recruited by Daniels.

“Children should not have cancer, nobody should have cancer, but about 1,700 kids a year in Canada are diagnosed with various kinds of cancer and the purpose of this ride is to raise money for research and programs and to support families of kids who have childhood cancers and I couldn’t think of a better cause to support,” said Daniels.

She said for this year she has pledged to ride 500 kilometres throughout the month of August and hopes to raise $1,000

“SickKids the group that puts this on has race almost $15 million in the last eight years towards the cause, so every little bit helps,” said Daniels.

She said that usually she ends up riding more and collecting more funds than she pledges for but she likes to be conservative on both ends, just in case.

According to the Great Cycle Challenge Canada website, SickKids Foundation is the largest charitable funder of child health research, learning and care in Canada and it was founded in 1972.

Daniels said knowing that she has been able to contribute to cancer research feels great, but knowing that in a small way she has been able to help children receive the care they need to fight cancer is something that cannot be expressed in words.

Hansen agrees with Daniels on that, as she has inspiration to continue riding close to home.

“I have a very good friend who lost her son to cancer almost 25 years ago and she’s one of my main reasons for doing this every year,” said Hansen.

She described her friend as a wonderful human being who tells her stories about her son and the heartbreak she went through when she lost him.

“If by doing this, it means that some other parent won’t have to go through that, then that’s enough for me to keep doing it,” said Hansen.

She added that the challenge is beneficial for her as well, as it motivates her to get out and exercise, which in turn keeps her healthy.

“I pledged to ride 400 kilometres and I pledge to raise $5,000 this year,” said Hansen.

They are both well on their way to fulfill their pledges. Daniels has raised $898.70 and Hansen has raised $3,807.24 as of Friday. If anyone is able to help them reach their goal they can do so on their profiles.

http://greatcyclechallenge.ca/riders/BTHansen and http://greatcyclechallenge.ca/riders/DaynaDaniels

And if anyone is interested in joining the Lethbridge Chapter and start riding for kids with cancer they can do so by visiting\ greatcyclechallenge.ca