Hello, my name is Kris. I am a member of the West Shore RCMP where I have been posted for the past 7 years. I am honoured to have been selected to ride with the 2023 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team where local Police, Fire Fighters and Emergency Health Services personnel ride 1200KM from Port Alice to Victoria, BC from September 23rd to October 6th.

Tour de Rock has been around for 26 years and is a way for local emergency services personnel to raise funds for childhood cancer research and to support programs for those battling this terrible disease.

My story began when I was 16 years old and I lost my grandmother to cancer. My grandmother was a huge part of my life growing up, but sadly at the time I didn’t fully grasp what was happening. Her battle was very short, and I often think about how much time I wish I had spent with her.

In 2022 while I was providing Northern policing relief in Nunavut, I was notified December 9th that my father had been diagnosed with cancer. I was optimistic when hearing the treatment plan put forward by his doctors and started planning to visit upon my return from the North in January. Sadly his was an incredibly invasive cancer and he lost his fight on January 4th 2023, just shy of a month from the time he was diagnosed; luckily, I was supported by the RCMP to be able to be with him in his final days.

My father was and always will be my role model, and I aspire to be more like him. Unfortunately, as with my grandmother, our time was cut far too short.

Knowing how difficult this disease has been for me, I can only imagine how devastating it must be for a parent to see their child battling with cancer, or how scary it would be for a young person to be going through this. This is why I’m honoured to be involved with this cause to find a cure and help those battling this disease.

Thank you for supporting my efforts to raise money towards pediatric cancer research and support programs for those afflicted by pediatric cancer. Children are truly innocent and deserve to have the opportunity to grow and play and be children without cancer.