Another ride, another good cause
Officer to cycle 4,300 km for St. Mary’s Regional Cardiac Care Centre
WATERLOO REGION — During past cycling treks, Waterloo Regional Police Sgt. Peter Viol has worried about grizzly bears, mountain lions and poisonous snakes.
This time, there might be black bears wanting to chase him, but his biggest concern is the smoke.
Viol will be riding his bicycle from Vancouver to Waterloo Region, a 4,300-kilometre trek through the Rocky Mountains, the Prairies and many areas affected by the British Columbia wildfires that have forced more than 43,000 people from their homes.
“You can avoid forest fires, but it’s hard to avoid the smoke,” said the 63-year-old Guelph resident who starts his ride on Aug. 26.
“My original route was through Kamloops, but that’s right through the middle of it,” he said.
He’s ruled that out and it will be a last-minute decision on which road to take, but he has planned alternative routes through the United States if need be.
Two years ago, Viol, a 19-year veteran of regional police, went on the Tour Divide, a 4,500-kilometre cycling mountain trek from Banff, Alta., to Antelope Wells, N.M.
A vigorous ride, the trail was made up of long stretches of dirt road crossing the length of the Rocky Mountains. It crossed two Canadian provinces and five American states, travelling through mountainous terrain, deserts and southern climates.
The month-long ride took him along the Continental Divide, the area that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean and waters that flow to the Atlantic.
Viol raised $12,000 for the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre. Last year, he participated in the Chowder Tour from St. John’s, N.L., to Ottawa and raised $18,500 for the local cancer centre.
For each ride, Viol has used vacation time to cycle for 28 days. Viol, who has been riding since 2001, has organized annual rides for cancer from the region to Ottawa for about seven years.
He has a titanium bike, tent, a sleeping bag, clothes for warm and cold temperatures, his electronics, including his BlackBerry phone, camera and a GPS device.
“When you are alone for so long, especially on the Prairies, any contact is so appreciated,” said Viol, who plans to tweet and will keep in contact with a friend who can monitor his whereabouts from the region.
Another change this year is that he is raising money for the Regional Cardiac Care Centre at St. Mary’s General Hospital in memory of his late wife, Monique. His goal is to collect $30,000.
To date, he’s collected $21,000. Hogg Fuel & Supply and the Waterloo Chinese Community Association have each donated $10,000. The remainder has come from private donations.
Monique died in November 1983, just 15 months after the pair was married. She was 20.
She was diagnosed with heart disease and had a heart transplant, but died 36 hours after surgery from complications.
“I always knew I would do this and support cardiac issues,” he said.
“I’ve been living with this (her death) for 34 years. This is not new to me.”
Viol admits this ride will likely be more emotional this time.
“The focus for me is us (Monique and me) trying to raise money so other families don’t have to go through this.”
To donate money to Viol’s ride, go to www.supportstmarys.ca/ petes-ride-2017