Everyone has a reason for taking part in BMO Ride for Cancer. For Kimberley Wotherspoon, it has become a way of honoring her late partner, Marc, who passed away from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2012 at the young age of only 36.
Kimberley – who is originally from Victoria, British Columbia, but has been living in Halifax for the past 20 years – grew up in a family of volunteers. An administrative assistant at the Halifax Port Authority, she is a recognized community environmentalist, whose accolades include the 2021 HRM Volunteer of the Year award and becoming a recent recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of her inspiring efforts.
She recently started training for her sixth BMO Ride for Cancer which coincidentally is taking place on Marc’s birthday this year. She first learned about the annual cycling event at a presentation put on at her workplace by the QEII Foundation and instantly knew it was something she wanted to do for Marc.
“I thought it was a great way to honour his memory,’’ says Kimberley who is captain of her workplace and family team, the HPA Ocean Terminators, this year.
She has personally fundraised $10,000 over the past five years, while the team has collectively raised over $50,000. She’s hoping to personally raise $5,000 this year in recognition of the 10th anniversary of BMO Ride for Cancer, which is being held on September 28. Most HPA Ocean Terminators team members have signed up for the 50-kilometre trail route.
A match fund of up to $500 at Kimberley’s workplace for staff taking part in an initiative for charity has helped recruit new members, she says, and although fundraising can sometimes be challenging, she says each year “it gets easier” as she develops more contacts to help spread the word among those who want to make a direct and local impact.
In addition to personal donations, Kimberley also raises funds by hosting bottle-drives in her neighbourhood and regular 50/50 draws at work. She enjoys the fitness aspect of the ride and routinely partners with co-workers for group rides around the province in preparation of the big day which Kimberley praises for its community engagement and for drawing people of all ages and cycling abilities.
She says the energy and momentum along the trail on BMO Ride day is palpable and the celebration at its end filled with feelings of accomplishment and pride. It’s just one of the things she looks forward to most.
“It’s an incredible feeling to all come together for a common cause and celebrate what we’ve achieved, our collective fundraising total, and the many patients and families it’ll impact,” she says with a sense of excitement.
The HPA Ocean Terminators team will be riding in memory of Marc and all their loved ones who have been touched by cancer. The fact that all funds raised through BMO Ride for Cancer support life-changing cancer care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre is especially important to Kimberley, whose late partner received all treatment and care at the region’s largest and most specialized cancer centre.
“You’re fundraising and you can see exactly where the money is going at the QEII Cancer Centre and the impact it has on the community,” she explains. “We’re ultimately riding for those that can’t and to support those that are in need of treatment. Any of us riding might need cancer treatment down the road. We’re doing the fundraising now for something we hope we won’t need, but it’s there if we do.’’
Proudly hosted by the QEII Foundation, BMO Ride for Cancer is Atlantic Canada’s largest cycling fundraising event. All funds raised here, change lives here. Support Kimberley or another BMO Ride for Cancer participant or team with a donation today.
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