Thank you for visiting. A brief bit of background: after many years living outside of Canada (almost 25), I recently returned to Canada and relocated from Vilcabamba, Ecuador, and I am currently residing in Prince George, British Columbia.

I wanted to begin 2026 with a continuous improvement mindset—giving back to the community and finding a charitable organization I truly believe in, one where I could make a meaningful and lasting impact. For personal reasons, I chose the Canadian Cancer Society.

So, the question became: what could I do to make a difference?
The answer came easily—I love cycling.

That’s when I discovered the Cops for Cancer – Tour de North: a 7-day, 845 km bike ride across Northern British Columbia, raising funds for life-saving pediatric cancer research and critical support programs. After a moment of reflection (and maybe a little self-doubt), I thought… why not? And just like that, I was pedaling for a purpose.

I began my training at the local YMCA with almost daily indoor cycling sessions, which helped improve my cardio and build a solid endurance base.

I started my outdoor training sessions “riding” at the beginning of March, and as of mid-July I have surpassed 4,000km and 19,220m elevation gain on my Strava App.

More importantly, I have met my fellow riders (15); many have participated in previous years. I appreciate all the training support and riding in a peloton for the first time, with focus on safety always. It is an honor for me to be a community team rider with these amazing human beings, all with their individual reasons to ride and support Cops for Cancer.

Our fundraising efforts have included 50/50 hockey draws with the Prince George Spruce Kings and participation in the 2026 Sirens Cup, a charity fundraiser supporting both the Prince George Firefighters Charitable Society and Cops for Cancer – Tour de North, and a Charity Golf Event in July 25^th.

Thank you sincerely for your time, support, and consideration in making a contribution

Derek

Professional Bio