Adam Prudhomme
Staff Reporter
Scott Slack dipped the front wheel of his bicycle into the Atlantic Ocean in Halifax on Saturday, signifying the end of an 18-day, cross-Canada journey for the Coast to Coast Ride Against Cancer.
The Napanee native dipped the back tire into the Pacific Ocean at White Rock, B.C. on Sept. 6 with several other cyclists to start the 7,000-kilometre fundraising ride, with proceeds going towards curing childhood cancer.
“The prairies was the worst, it was just nothing,” recalled Slack of the ride. “It’s the same thing, you just pedal and pedal, there’s no raise, there’s no hill, there’s no change. You’re just plunked on that seat and doing the exact same thing for hours. It was more the mental part of more than it was the fatigue.”
The ride was done in teams of two, with one group riding bikes while the other group rested in a van that followed the riders.
Training for nearly a year ahead of the ride, Slack says the biggest challenge wasn’t always endurance, but the emotions of the stories attached to the ride. One moment in particular was when they reached the Terry Fox monument in Thunder Bay, Ont., marking the spot where Fox had to end his historic Marathon of Hope.
“It’s quite breathtaking,” said Slack. “It was quite cool that day, you get off your bike and you’re sweating. Our crew chief asked me ‘Are you cold, you alright?’ And I said to him honestly as soon as I started walking down that pathway (to the monument) I didn’t feel a thing. No aches or pain, just strictly emotions. You can’t help but get caught up in it and think about what (Fox has) done. When it really comes down to it, he set the stage to fundraise for cancer and try to get a cure.”
Slack said there were several similar moments like that at the monument that provided him with the inspiration to keep going.
“We do a dedication ride,” said Slack. “There’s a reading every morning for a child (that has either beaten cancer or was taken by it) that we dedicate that ride to. It’s very emotional, we all gather up in a circle and then one person is asked to read the dedication and it’s impossible not to get caught up in it. If somebody had any type of doubt (about the ride), if they stepped in that circle for five minutes they’d be hooked by it.”
Among those who had doubt prior to getting involved with the fight against cancer was Slack himself.
“My middle name is Thomas, so I always joke around, Doubting Thomas,” he said. “I always had a lot of doubts about a lot of things in life. I met this one gentleman in Vancouver. His son James passed away at Sick Kids (from cancer). He told me this story. His father said when he passed away that he was going to come back as a hawk. Unfortunately, his wife passed first, then he passed away. On the way to the burial site for James, they were followed by three hawks the whole way. So Gord, his dad, says whenever you see three hawks, you know James and them are around. On our way across the prairies, we were followed by three hawks for the day.”
Through community donations and fundraising events such as a charity golf tournament and the Napanee Raiders’ Pink in the Rink night, Slack was able to raise $25,000 for the cause. All told the ride has raised $1.1 million so far. Every dollar from the money raised goes to the fight against childhood cancer.
“A lot of people are congratulating me because I made the trip and I finished,” said Slack. “I’m totally thankful for everyone to say that, but it’s for the kids and we’ve got to make a difference.”
Slack says he’s undecided as to whether or not he’ll take part in the ride next year, but says he plans to help out in one way or another.