Wayne Oberst of Chilliwack has been a huge part of B.C.'s largest cycling fundraiser, and he's still passionate about it after 15 years.
“It's the best day of my year, every year, absolutely,” he said about Tour de Cure, a two-day event which raises money for BC Cancer Foundation.
The fundraiser will see 2,000 cyclists ride more than 200 kilometres on Aug. 24 and 25 from Cloverdale to Hope. Last year, the ride brought in $7.1 million, and since its inception in 2009 has raised more than $124 million.
He became involved back in 2010 when the event – then called Ride to Conquer Cancer – was in its infancy. He heard about it on the radio and immediately thought of his friend who was battling an inoperable brain tumour. There was nothing he could do to help her, but it was a way for him to honour her, he thought.
Oberst himself was recovering from thyroid cancer when he did his first ride. At the time, it started in Surrey, crossed the border to Washington State, and then came back to B.C. There were only three or four people on his team that first year, but as the years went on, the team grew and he found unique ways to raise money.
“When I do fundraising, I do it differently than everybody else,” he said. "What we do is we create events… you got to have a three-ring circus. You've got to have a trifecta of ways to relieve people of their money.”
He's hosted events with raffles and 50/50 draws. He's put on 'Rock Out Cancer' concerts with his band Rock Therapy, where he auctioned off autographed albums and guitars signed by musicians.
He calls it "value-added" fundraising where people can participate and donate to the cause, plus they get something back for it.
Oberst's team is called Rock The $#@! Out Of Cancer.
“When people say, ‘What does that mean?’ I say 'Any four-letter word that describes how you feel about cancer.'”
For short, they simply call it Rock Out Cancer.
With years of experience under his belt, Oberst views his team as pioneers in the fundraiser. They've brought many 'firsts' to the event.
In addition to the way they fundraise, team Rock Out Cancer was the first to wrap their own personal vehicles with sponsor logos, and they were the first to add some flair to their outfits.
For the past 10 years, no one has been allowed to be on the team unless they wear a fluorescent, big-haired wig (think Tina Turner hair). They are not worn underneath the helmet, rather Oberst zap-straps them to the outside.
Not only are the wigs fun, but it makes the riders much more visible.
“It looks awesome and they can pick us up from a mile away.”
Thanks in large part to his wife Lory, Oberst's team was also the first to have 'sweep' volunteers – a group of people in vehicles that help the riders out along the way. The sweep team will leapfrog with the riders, being ahead of them and them behind as they look after the riders along the route.
Team sweep also helps with flat tires, will cheer on the cyclists, and if a rider is exhausted they'll give them a lift. When a cyclist is injured they stop to help, or if it’s a more serious injury, they stay with them until emergency crews arrive.
Sweep is “keeping an eye on riders that don't look right,” he said.
Oberst recalled one time he was pulled from a ride about nine years ago by a friend because he was swerving all over the place. Oberst claimed he was fine, so he rode for a while longer until his friend made him stop. The next day, he saw a doctor who told him he could have had a stroke while riding.
Tour de Cure is currently looking for riders, donations, and volunteers, especially people for team sweep. Both volunteer drivers and navigators are needed for team sweep. Drivers get reimbursed for gas money and all volunteers are provided with meals.
Oberst calls the ride a "celebration" of those affected by cancer.
“I always tell people it's something you do because you can. People sick with cancer don't have the privilege of doing this ride… some of them do," he said. “You've got people who are sick that are still riding, people that are riding because they've recently lost loved ones, people that are riding because they've lost a lot of people, people that just care.”
He's had a lot of inspiration over the years to keep him going.
On his first ride, Oberst met a man named Paul King who was also from Chilliwack. King had lung cancer and went into remission the year prior.
“I said ‘And you're riding now? You're my new hero.’ He was the most positive person I ever met.”
And then there was little Lilee-Jean Putt, a Chilliwack toddler who had brain cancer. She died in September 2013 at the age of two and a half, and King died just a few months later.
After they died, Oberst wrote a song to honour them called Dancing in the Rain. Proceeds from the song went to the fundraiser ride.
More recently, Oberst had some ‘whale tail’ jewelry made out of old spoons. The words “Fight like a girl” was written on them and he hands those out to people on the route. He gave one to a woman years ago.
“There's this one lady who has recovered and every year she'll come and find me and she'll show me that she's still got it."
Each time she tells him that the whale tail jewelry gets her through the ride every year.
“It makes me feel good. I know that I'm helping them in a way because sometimes fitness isn't enough to do the ride," he said. “I always tell people, and I've said this since day one, this ride is 40 per cent perspiration and 60 per cent inspiration because all these people who are in a good mood, they just bring you along.”
This year, there's another reason he's riding.
“My reason for riding this year is because I want to ride with my daughter.”
After helping out since the age of seven, 17-year-old Jasper is finally allowed to do the ride this year (minimum age is 16).
“I recommend anybody try it once. It's the hardest thing some people have ever done in their life until you do it the second time, and then that was the hardest thing… now you've decided to come back.”
Why does Oberst continue to take part in the Tour de Cure after 15 years?
“Well, is there still cancer?” he said.
The Tour de Cure, presented by Wheaton Precious Metals, is Aug. 24 and 25. The route for the first day goes from Cloverdale to Chilliwack, and the next day riders head from Chilliwack and go to Hope.
To donate, participate or volunteer, go to tourdecure.ca.
