It was a cloudy afternoon Tuesday (Sept. 27), when the 19-strong Tour de Rock crew and a team of volunteers walked into Comox鈥檚 脡cole Au coeur de l鈥櫭甽e.
Welcomed by Comox Valley鈥檚 cancer survivor dragon boat team, Hope Afloat, the riders sat down at tables in the school hall, eagerly awaiting dinner.
On the menu: spaghetti and meatballs, with Caesar salad and garlic bread. It was in a cordial atmosphere, where participants exchange cheerful conversation and laughter.
Among them was Comox Valley resident Ajinkya Chodankar, this year鈥檚 northernmost participant.
The Indian-born volunteer firefighter for the city of Courtenay said that he was glad to partake in this year鈥檚 edition.
Despite a rough start following a few rainy days since their departure from Port Alice, Chodankar kept smiling, reminding himself that he was doing this for a good cause.
鈥淲hen we started, the weather was quite horrible,鈥� said Chodankar. 鈥淏ut once we get to our hotel, we have an amazing support team of about 30 people who take care of us. But the kids who are fighting cancer, don鈥檛 have the option to just stop and relax, they can鈥檛 give up.鈥�
Having family members and friends who have fought cancer, this event holds great significance for him.
鈥淚 lost track of how many times I cried since the beginning, but I think I did twice this morning. The experience has been overwhelming up to now,鈥� added Chodankar smiling. 鈥淚 think that after this experience, I鈥檓 going to need a little week to process all of this.鈥�
Proud to be a part of this year鈥檚 team, Codankar is grateful that the Island is home to this unique tradition.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so lucky to have this tradition, the Tour de Rock, here on the Island. Our community is just so strong and it鈥檚 such a great experience,鈥� said Chodankar. 鈥淏ut I wish we wouldn鈥檛 have to do this in the future and find a cure for cancer, and that鈥檚 why we鈥檙e here and we keep going.鈥�
The ride will wrap up on Oct. 6 in Victoria, after a long ride of 1,200 kilometres across Vancouver Island.
For more information on the ride and its riders, visit
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