A Cross Canada Marathon 1 May through 17 July 2006 HOME...Page 1...Page 2
Abbotsford Hospice Society
On 1 May 2006, two young Abbotsford Hospice volunteers, Mike Conway and Conrad Nickels, embarked on a Cross Canada Bike
for Life trip to raise awareness of Hospice services as well as financial support for Abbotsford Hospice Society and
Hospice Associations across Canada. Bike for Life started with a quick dip of a bike wheel in the Pacific Ocean at Mile 0
of the Trans Canada Highway in Victoria, British Columbia. It will end 4,849 miles (7,821 km) later, in St. John's, Newfoundland,
with a bike wheel dipped in the Atlantic Ocean. The expedition will be carried out entirely on bicycle and the team members
will pursue a strict code of conduct while traveling, thus "leaving no trace". This means that no garbage is left behind
and there is no damage to wildlife.
These fine young athletic men were so moved by their introduction to the lives and realities of those near death that they
felt compelled to do something to educate others and to provide support for Hospices across Canada. The result is this
remarkable trip, Bike for Life, and we ask that you support them as enthusiastically as they have embraced the goals and
challenges associated with this trip.
Abbotsford Hospice Society is justifiably proud of these two volunteers — one pursuing a goal as a fireman, the other a
degree in Chemistry — and we readily support their efforts. Abbotsford Hospice Society will manage funds and donations
with the transparency and ethics we have displayed in our 20+ year history. Please get involved and support Bike for Life
and Hospices across Canada.
The goal of the Bike for Life marathon is to raise
awareness of Canadian Hospices and hospice services;
consciousness of a continuum of end of life issues;
acceptance of death, with all of its struggles, challenges, beauty and gifts.
and to underscore
Hospice philosophy, that is, living well and living in the moment until one's last breath;
the importance of embracing life in times of doubt and fear, even as death approaches.
This expedition is supported and funds will be managed by the Abbotsford Hospice Society. Charitable
Registration Number: 11877 6053 RR0001.
Lions Gate Hospice Society is a small group of individuals on the North Shore of
Vancouver, B.C. who are committed to supporting the provision of quality end of life care in the community. Working
closely with the North Shore Palliative Care Program, their focus is on advocacy, public education and fundraising.
Their mission is to support exemplary hospice/palliative care for people at the end of their lives and to support their family and friends.
Hospice Calgary is a not-for-profit, charitable organization whose sole purpose is to help families and individuals achieve
support, hope and well-being through compassionate end-of-life and bereavement care. Since 1980, Hospice Calgary has been a
leader in providing quality, compassionate service to individuals and their families, providing medical, psychosocial and
spiritual care in response to the pain and grief they individually experience as a result of illness and/or death.
Palliser Health Authority provides
comprehensive palliative care services through an organized team approach (with a Medical Director, designated Nurse
Co-ordinators, and an office Manager/Volunteer Co-ordinator) at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. Palliative Care is designed for individuals who are living with, or dying from, a progressive life threatening illness. The program enhances quality of life through pain and
symptom control and provides emotional and spiritual support for both patients and families. Compassionate and specialized care
is provided with specialized knowledge and skills.
Hospice Georgina is a registered non-profit charitable organization, delivering hospice services to the residents of
the Town of Georgina on both the mainland and on Georgina Island. The Hospice provides non-medical, physical, emotional
and spiritual support to people in Georgina coping with life-threatening or terminal illness, as well as respite care for
caregivers who are looking after a loved one at home, grief and bereavement programs, and a lending library to support
adults and children surrounding the death of a loved one. The Hospice relies on volunteers and donations to keep their
services available at no cost to everyone in community.
Hospice Society of Greater Halifax
is a not-for-profit community-based organization, working together with individuals and organizations in the Capital
Health District to help people live fully and die well. Hospice palliative care aims to relieve suffering and improve
the quality of living and dying for all, helping people and their families cope with loss and grief during illness and
bereavement. We help those facing the end of their lives to receive the best of care, addressing physical, emotional, practical,
and spiritual issues to help people to prepare for life closure.
Algoma Residential Community Hospice (ARCH)
will be a new, free standing, fully incorporated, ten bed residential hospice with
quiet, comforting natural grounds including paths, lawns and gardens. ARCH is licensed for
charitable status and will not be age-, disease- or gender-specific. A team of professionals and
volunteers will facilitate a holistic approach to dying in which death is affirmed as a natural
process and quality of life is a priority. Spiritual and cultural diversity will be respected. Care will
be provided with the focus on patient and family, emphasizing comfort rather than cure. Support, comfort,
pain management, and dignity for each individual will be maintained.
The journey begins...
It was the type of morning that only British Columbia and the Pacific Ocean can provide as Bike for Life participants,
Mike Conway and Conrad Nickels made their way down the "million stairs" to the waves at Mile 0 of the Trans Canada highway
to dip their bike wheels in the surf. Conrad's Dad, Tony, played a clarinet rendition of "Oh Canada", mixed with "Happy Trails".
When they stopped at the Terry Fox Memorial, the boys were touched by the inscription, "Dreams are made possible if you try". With
that thought in mind, under brilliant blue skies, they began their cross country Bike for Life journey to raise
awareness and funds for hospice services across Canada.
Only hours into the trip, on the way to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, an errant stone caused a spill for Mike, resulting
in some serious road rash from knee to ankle. The first marks of courage. The crossing to the mainland provided some last
moments of respite and reflection as the two travelers pondered the road ahead. On the mainland, in Surrey, BC, the duo spent
the night in the company of friends who provided a fitting send-off.
The Abbotsford Reception
The next day dawned sunny again as Abbotsford Hospice Society staff and volunteers prepared to welcome the boys and the community
at a BBQ held in the back yard of Hospice House. The evening event was attended by nearly 100 family, friends, volunteers and clients.
Then, after hugs and fond wishes, they were back on their bikes.
The journey from Abbotsford to Hope was not without its troubles as the two experienced five punctured inner tubes, causing
lengthy delays and a little bit of frustration. Undaunted, they carried on to Hope, where a huge pasta meal awaited them at the home
of a friend. After a night under the stars and a big breakfast in the morning, they were set to tackle the mighty Coquihalla highway,
through mountain passes and snow covered peaks, stretching from Hope to Merritt to Kamloops and the Trans Canada. This journey
can be daunting, even by car, but our intrepid cyclists took it in stride, arriving in Merritt with sore legs and huge smiles.
They took time to rest on Friday, May 5th, and on Saturday, they headed for Kamloops.
Through Rogers Pass
The cyclists were in Salmon Arm on May 7th, and they arrived in Revelstoke on May 8th, where they were welcomed by the good folks
at the foot of the Selkirk Mountains, gateway to Rogers Pass.
Steep mountain narrows, unpredictable weather, snow sheds, threats of slides and late season avalanches combine to make Rogers Pass
a formidable and dangerous stretch of the Trans Canada. The cyclists' peak conditioning and good sense brought them safely through
to Golden, BC, on May 9th - a distance of 140 kilometers.
In the town of Golden, Mike and Conrad stayed with Rita Gluns, a family friend, and, well rested on May 11th, they headed for the
Alberta border. Scant hours after their passage, a huge rock slide blocked the Trans Canada.
On the 12th and 13th of May, the duo stayed at a hostel in beautiful Banff, Alberta, where they met other young people, travelers
from all over the world. The cyclists left Banff for Canmore on the 14th, and the next day they headed for Calgary. Scorching heat
caused more tire punctures as well as the first sunburn of the trip, but they arrived in good shape.
Interviewed on Breakfast Television
Michael and Conrad arrived in Calgary on Monday, May 15th. Budget Lodge graciously donated a two-night stay for the boys and,
after they had checked in, they were greeted by Catherine Bell, Fund Development Coordinator at Hospice Calgary.
Catherine tells us that the three of them went out for dinner, shared some stories, and discussed the details for the boy's TV debut the next day, when they were to be
among Dave and Barb's guests on Calgary’s CityTV morning show, Breakfast Television.
In the early morning of May 16th, Michael, Conrad and Catherine met at CityTV to shoot the segment, after which they proceeded to
Hospice Calgary’s Community Outreach Centre for a short tour and to meet the staff, who provided encouragement for their journey.
They visited Rosedale Hospice (Hospice Calgary’s end-of-life care facility) for a home cooked breakfast. The boys then returned to
the hotel for some rest, and, the next day, they continued their journey to Medicine Hat, where Hospice Calgary
had arranged further accommodations. Hospice Calgary wishes Michael and Conrad a safe trip, and commends their efforts in
support of Canadian hospice care.
That famous prairie hospitality...
Comments on the ride from Calgary to Medicine Hat: "The mosquitoes are amazing...they can fly faster than we can ride!"
On May 18th, Michael and Conrad arrived in Medicine Hat, where they were lucky enough to stay with hockey fans and watch the game.
They cycled through through Maple Creek the next day, and then on to Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Horrendous headwinds made the going "much harder than the Rockies", but, on May 20th, they arrived in
the town of Morse (population ~200). A few things dominate the horizon Morse — the church spire, a grain elevator, and, much to
the boy's delight, a satellite dish! The couple who owned the dish (and the house attached to it) took them in for supper and
they all settled in to watch the hockey game. Thank goodness for that famous prairie hospitality!
On May 21st, Mike and Conrad quietly celebrated Mike's 21st birthday.
In daily contact with friends and family, Mike also calls the Wellness Centre at Abbotsford Hospice House every Thursday, to
speak with clients about the progress of the trip. Everyone is pulling for the boys, and everyone looks forward to these calls.
As the guys make their way across the country, they're meeting a lot of friendly supportive people. Back in Revelstoke,
some friendly folk invited them into their RV at the campsite, to hear more about their biking
adventure over dessert and coffee.... and they offered a wonderful donation for Hospice support as well!
Some young hostellers in Banff also donated to their cause. Conrad said everyone is really interested in what they're
doing and are so supportive. Some Albertans offered them a ride when a huge headwind blew up from Canmore into Calgary,
but, of course, the boys stuck to their biking.
Hey Kelly,
Conrad here, in windy, thunderstormy, looks-like-rainy Whitewood, Saskatchewan. The wind in the prairies has been relentless.
Today we rode less than a kilometer before deciding it was ridiculous to try. We were only traveling at 11 km/h. Even on a
calm day with no wind we can cruise at 30km/h! We were actually in Morse on May 21st, and the family that invited us in for
dinner, also lit a candle, stuck it in a piece of pie, and ice cream, and sang happy birthday to Mike! They were just great!
Jim, and Lois were their names. May 22nd we stayed in Parkbeg, Sask to avoid an oncoming thunderstorm. Population 11 "including
the cats and dogs." Almost half the houses are abandoned, and falling over... pretty scary ghost town. We set up camp in a
field, behind an abandoned grain elevator; fell asleep to the sound of thunder, and flashes of lightning. Yesterday (May 25th)
en route to Whitewood from Indian Head, I took my first tumble. Heard a strange clicking noise from my just-fixed chain, looked
down to check it out, and next thing I know, Mike and my tires are rubbing together, I lose my balance, and take a bounce on
the concrete. I'm in fine condition though, just road rash, and some dents on my helmet... I'll send more stories and pictures from
Winnipeg....
People have been wonderful and very interested in what Mike and Conrad are doing. The boys are picking up small donations,
receiving a lot of support, and they are certainly raising awareness about what services are offered here in B.C.
Notes from Leslie, Mike's mother...
On the 26th, facing heavy winds, Mike and Conrad stayed an extra day in Whitewood, Saskatchewan. They headed
towards Brandon, Manitoba, on the 27th and arrived on the 28th. The 29th found them in Portage La Prairie, still
working against strong winds, broken spokes and flat tires. In Winnipeg on the 30th, they stayed with friends of
Tony and Penny, Conrad’s folks, and they rested up there on the 31st May. We last heard from Mike on June 2nd, from
Kenora, Ontario. It was with excitement and anticipation that they entered Ontario.
