Sports
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September 2, 2015 • Northern View • A15
Pond to cycle 715 km to Prince George for Hope Air BY KEVIN CAMPBELL PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View
Most motorists glancing at the distance sign to Terrace and Prince George might see the 715 kilometres to the latter city and groan, settling in for a long journey. But for Mikaela Pond and Jennifer Miller, who don’t even have motors on their chosen vehicles of transport, that number represents a challenge and an opportunity. Pond, who grew up in Rupert before leaving for post-secondary in Prince George, is one half of the pair cycling all the way from the North Coast to Prince George and the two are doing it in just six days from Aug. 30 to Sept. 4. “Basically, they’re just two places
Kevin Campbell / The Northern View
Mikaela Pond, right, and Jennifer Miller, left, begin their journey on McBride Street.
really close to my heart,” said Pond, who has lived extensively in both cities, on the day before she set out. Pond and Miller are putting themselves through the gruelling, but scenic trip to raise money for Hope Air, a national charity that provides families in financial need with free air travel to their appointments in larger urban centres for specialized medical care not available locally. Their goal is $6,000, enough funds for 24 flights that Hope Air can provide for northern B.C. “I learned of Hope Air when I was a student, actually,” said Pond. “When I was in the nursing club at UNBC, they were one of the charities that we wanted to do fundraising for on our long list of [candidates] and we never got to them. So, I’ve probably been wanting to fundraise for five or six years, I just haven’t had the opportunity until now.” Pond and Miller are both registered nurses working in northern B.C. — Pond in Fort St. John and Miller in Burns Lake — and the two met when Pond was assigned to work in Burns Lake for six months. Through their jobs, the duo have met countless families and specifically, children, who need funds to reach a more urban destination to receive specialized care. “We see children until they’re about 18 months old and then again in kindergarten. I’ve come across many children who have illnesses that require them to travel to Vancouver or Edmonton and they can’t afford it. They express how the cost is really hard on the family and their financial budget and it’s
Kevin Campbell / The Northern View
Mikaela Pond, left, Jennifer Miller, front right, and Kelci Breault-Hood, back right, prepare for their long journey. Breault-Hood is the pairs’ safety spotter.
really nice when you hear those parents come back two or six months later and they’ve used Hope Air to get down to their appointments. It just made a world of difference in their life,” said Pond. “I thought the trip [from Rupert to Prince George] really represents that distance that people have to travel, so we called it ‘Riding the Bridge to Healthcare’ because essentially that’s what I feel like we’re doing.” Pond and Miller have a spotter vehicle riding along with them which displays a sign notifying passing vehicles of the Hope Air cause and to slow for the cyclists. They’ll also have a trailer carrying food, equipment and supplies for the near-week-long trip. In getting prepared for the ride, Pond and Miller both rode around Fort St. John and Burns Lake, respectively, sometimes on a stationary bike, sometimes on a real one.
“I’ve been riding the farm roads around Fort St. John and Fort Nelson – whenever I work up there I bring my bike and go for a ride,” said Pond. The cyclists have broken up their journey into six parts, one for each day. On Aug. 30, the pair rode from Prince Rupert to Terrace, starting their trek at 7:30 a.m. On Aug. 31, they rode from Terrace to New Hazelton, on Sept. 1, they travelled from New Hazelton to Smithers, on Sept. 2 they’re biking from Smithers to Burns Lake, on Sept. 3, they’ll head from Burns Lake to Vanderhoof and on the last day, they’ll cross the finish line from Vanderhoof to Prince George. As of Monday, the two have raised $3,885 or 65 per cent of their goal and are still accepting donations even after their ride is complete. To donate, visit their website at https:// fundrazr.com/campaigns/1105M4.
Rupertites clean up at BC Seniors Games BY KEVIN CAMPBELL PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View
Prince Rupert’s contingent that headed off to the BC Seniors’ Games in North Vancouver this August obliterated their past year’s totals in medals won. While their zone as a whole — comprised of Haida Gwaii, Prince Rupert, Terrace, Kitimat and the Nass Valley — didn’t win as many medals as last year (they gathered 27, compared with 2014’s 28), the Rupertites that were in attendance as competitors blew their opponents out of the water. Starting with the team categories the North West zone, which finished in ninth out of 13 zones with their 27 medals, won silver in women’s 260 – 299 4 x 25 m freestyle relay and gold in men and women’s 55+ team of four carpet bowling. A duo of Rupertites, Sharon and Paul Paulson, won silver in men’s and women’s 55+ pairs cribbage - an improvement from the bronze they won a year ago. The carpet bowling team of Eunice and Frank Jackson, Betty Bishop and Harvey Calder took gold in men and
women 55+ carpet bowling and the Basso-Maguire duo won bronze and silver in men and women 55+ pairs whist. As for the individual medal winners, Prince Rupert cleaned up once again. Ann Marie Vandermeer claimed a whopping six gold medals in swimming – more than half of all North West athletes’ golds combined in all categories. The zone won 11 gold medals. During the games, she took first in women’s 55-59 200m individual medley, 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 100m individual medley. Also in swimming, Dawn Quast took fourth in women’s 65-69 50m backstroke, seventh in 200m freestyle, fifth in 400m freestyle, fourth in 100m breaststroke and bronze in 100m backstroke. Rupertite Andrea Anderson grabbed silver in women’s 65-69 800m freestyle, sixth in 200m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 25m freestyle, fifth in 50m freestyle and bronze in 400m freestyle. Jim Morse claimed gold in men’s 55-59 50m butterfly, 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley and silver
in 100m freestyle and 100m individual medley. In archery, four Prince Rupert residents showed well. Andy Vandermeer took two gold in men’s 55-59 compound bow with sight with release aid – target and 3D, Fred Hutchings won two gold in men’s 6064 longbow without sight and fingers – target and 3D, Jim Martin won bronze in men’s 60-64 longbow without sight and fingers – target and fifth in 3D and Bob Bennett won two bronze in men’s 65-69 longbow without sight and fingers – target and 3D. Twenty-eight participants overall made up the contingent from Rupert.
Contributed / The Northern View
L-R: Jim Morse, Andrea Anderson, Dawn Quast, Ann Marie Vandermeer and Kitimat’s Mark Morgan make up the swim team.
In Loving Memory of
Shirley Mona Wilson May 2, 1934 to Sept 2, 2002 Forever loved and missed by loving husband Ambrose, Children; Brodie (Sharon), Doug Sr. (Lorraine), Hazel, Greg (Cindy), Dougie Jr (Mamie) and Lavern. Many Grandchildren and many Great Grand Children. I dream of you, dear loved one, And see your smiling face, And know that you are happy In our Father’s chosen place