Every year for 26 years the BC Lung Association has held it’s annual ‘Trek’ – a 2 day, 200km bike ride through the Fraser Valley – one of the original bike rides before big charity rides really came into their own.
While clean, fresh, West Coast air is a huge part of what makes BC such an awesome place to live and while I am a supporter of the Association’s cause it is not the actual cause that I think is so compelling but rather the event itself.
This two-day event brings together cyclists of all skill levels from across the province – not just Vancouverites – to take part in an event that really celebrates some of the key elements of what it means to be Canadian, especially on the West Coast: clean fresh air, good friends, delicious food and the great outdoors.
It may sound incredibly cheesy but Trek has this feel-good, inclusive vibe that envelops you from the moment you arrive. Trekkers are a motley crew and happily welcome newcomers into the mix without a moment’s hesitation – there is no ‘mean girling’ with this group. Trek is not just about cycling, not just about fundraising and not just about spending time in the beautiful BC backyard. Trek is about community, friendship and family – it is a non-stop weekend of hugs and smiles. Cheesy – for sure – but it is totally honest.
I think what this all amounts to one of the key components to Trek’s 26-year streak of successful events. Participants leave Trek feeling as though they have become part of something bigger than a single weekend event – and this shows with the annual 60% retention rate for participants.
During my three Trek's I have spent a lot of my time talking with the participants and volunteers and I am always taken aback by how many of the participants have a deeply personal connection to the cause and, moreover, how willing they are to share their story. I won’t lie, it is hard hearing some of the stories of loss, but it is a reminder of why nearly 400 people come together annually for this event and why it is so important.
However, despite the successes every event requires growth and change. With the launch of the much-lauded RBC GranFondo Whistler cycling event, now set to occur annually on this same weekend, there was a noticeable difference to this year’s Trek. With a drop in the number of participants event organizers are preparing to reevaluate and Trek is poised to emerge in 2011 better than ever with a highly anticipated face-lift - making next year a great year to take part in the event if you never have before.
Bottom line is this: when the time comes for me to move on from the BC Lung Association I would happily participate in the Bicycle Trek for Life & Breath as a cyclist or volunteer – even if it is raining as much as it was this past Sunday.
