The Countdown is On!

Friday August 30, 2019

by Julio Krenz, Retired Staff Sergeant Major. Ride Captain

We are just 7 days until the start of the 2019 Cops for Kids Ride, where everything the team has worked for all comes together. This team has been looking forward to the departure for months, since the original sign-up started in January. We even have riders who signed up before the end of 2018 to commit to the 2019 ride.

Once spring hit, riders started fundraising towards their $2,500 minimum, volunteering at Cops for Kids events and getting out on their bikes to start training for this incredible journey. Most riders have already committed upwards of 70 hours cycling local roads and mountain passes in preparation to leave Kelowna with their colleagues on a life-changing journey September 6^th.

For many of our riders, this life-changing experience will come at a time when they need it most. Detachments throughout the South East District are facing manpower shortages in addition to the severity of calls that have increased with the summer months. For these riders, many of them will return to Kelowna September 15^thwith a fresh outlook and reminder of why they chose a policing career to make a difference in their community.

Along the route, our team will stop in communities where they’ll have the opportunity to meet with local supporters, and families who benefit from their fundraising efforts. In each community, the team is graciously hosted for meals & overnight accommodations from businesses and community groups who believe in what we do. We are so excited, honored and grateful for all of the people who make this ride possible.

Over 10 days, the team will cover 1,000km of the mountainous South Eastern portion of British Columbia. September can offer weather of all four seasons, so at times we may need to rely on their enthusiasm and understanding to pedal mile after mile. Rewards will come when we arrive into each community where we’ll have the opportunity to meet with supporters, dignitaries and over 50 families that have benefitted from Cops for Kids funding. These interactions are the driving force for our ride team to pedal each day, knowing that their journey is minor in comparison to those of the children we will meet.

In anticipation of our departure next Friday, I’d like to give you a sneak peak of the individuals who will be travelling across the region as a part of the 2019 team.

Kathryn AHVENUS, RCMP Dispatch

John BAUER, Kelowna A/Cst.

Sergeant Rob CROWDER, Nelson BC Sheriffs Service

Cst. Andrew DEANE, Penticton RCMP

Cst. Robyn DIDDAMS, Golden RCMP

Cpl. Derrick FRANCIS, Merritt RCMP

Cst. Rob GARDNER, Stewart RCMP

Cst. Ron GEORGE, Castlegar RCMP

S/Sgt. Michel GRONDIN, Kamloops RCMP

Marc GRUBER, Joe Rich Fire Department

Gail HARRISON, Cops for Kids Grant Coordinator

Staff Sergeant Kelly HUNTER, Cranbrook BC Sheriffs Service

Roxanne JOHNSON, Nelson RCMP

Deputy Mike KOSOF, Nelson BC Sheriffs Service

Garnet LLOYD, Guest Peachland

Cpl. Andrew MCCABE, Richmond RCMP

Cst. Macklin MCCALL, Kelowna RCMP

Dr. Darcy MARCH, Kelowna A/Cst.

Dean MARCHAND, Guest Penticton

Kyle MELVIN, Guest Armstrong

Cpl. James MOORE, South East District Forensic Identification

Sgt. Carmen PENNEY, Penticton RCMP

Special Cst. Neil PENNEY, RCMP Air Services

Cst. Jon PUTERBOUGH, Merritt RCMP

Cst. Nick REIMANN, North Okanagan RCMP

Cst. Carl STENE, Kelowna RCMP

Cst. Sukhdeep TOOR, Kamloops RCMP

Cst. Liz VANT ERVE, Penticton RCMP

Cst. Jared ZEEMAN, Federal Policing

There’s also a team that supports the cyclists on their route. These are the people behind the scenes steering the ship, keeping the cyclists safe, comfortable and prepared.

Our 2019 Support Crew:

Motorcycle – Cpl. Gevan DALE, Kelowna RCMP

Police Car – Cst. Dan CARSON, Kelowna RCMP

Media Relations Police Car – Cst. Kelly BRETT, Vernon RCMP

Motorhome –Ken GEORGESON

Bus Driver – Bill TAYLOR

Event Coordinator – Courtney KING

Ride Captain – retired S/Sgt. Major Julio KRENZ

We thank you, our supporters for following along on our journey. This blog will be updated each night by the riders to recap each day, and photos will be posted to both Instagram and Facebook if you follow along on those channels.

Sincerely,

Julio Krenz,

Ride Captain