It’s pelting rain and unseasonably cold as four members of the Abbotsford Police Department hop onto their bicycles and prepare to hit the road. The poor weather won’t deter them from training – this year their mission is unlike any other.
Constables Renae Williams, Robyn Young, Jody Thomas and Neil Cole will represent the Abbotsford Police in the 2018 Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley, and they are cycling in honour of Const. John Davidson.
“He believed in the cause,” Williams, who was Davidson’s partner in the APD Traffic Unit, said.
“He believed in doing any amount of embarrassment to raise funds to fight childhood cancers. When he was killed, both Robyn and I made the decision to ride in (John’s) honour, to carry his passion, because he had already decided to ride again.”
WATCH: Photo tribute for Const. John Davidson
Davidson was responding to a report of a possible stolen vehicle on Nov. 6, 2017, when he was shot and killed. Oscar Arfmann faces a charge of first-degree murder in connection with Davidson’s death.
“It’s a struggle, I’m not going to lie,” Thomas said. “Some are struggling more than others and it’s just been day by day. So some of us are doing this to give back in John’s memory.”
She adds that the outpouring of public support has buoyed the department during its darkest days.
“One of the biggest things that still gets me choked up, and lot of the others choked up, is the community support we’ve had. It’s hard to put into words what the community has done for us, but I feel we should be giving this back to them. They’ve been amazing for us.”
The Tour de Valley will see members of law enforcement trek 800 kilometres from the Fraser Valley to Boston Bar, then south to Tsawwassen and White Rock as they raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Camp Goodtimes and childhood cancer research.
WATCH: ‘John Davidson is my hero’: Abbotsford police chief speaks out
The officers will visit 50 schools along the way, including some where Davidson once worked as a liaison officer. His work with the Youth Squad earned him accolades in the community.
“I just remember the kids hanging off of John, by his side,” Young said. “He’d wrestle with them, he’d hangout out with them the whole time. These kids just looked at him like he was their role-model, he was their hero.”
“He just had a way with kids. He was a small man, but he had a huge heart,” added Williams.
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The Abbotsford Police Department Cops for Cancer team hopes to raise $24,000 by the time the Tour de Valley launches in September.
“Nobody should have to battle this cancer,” Cole said. “The community can really help out. They can donate, they can help fight cancer, and in doing that, they can let children know, they aren’t fighting cancer alone.”
Young has her own personal reason for getting involved again this year. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and undergoing five surgeries, Young said she felt compelled to ride and do her part to help children living with cancer.
“It was terrible, I felt terrible for my family. And I felt terrible for the kids. At that point it made me realize, whatever I was going through, these kids were going through and more.”
The team says Davidson will be with them in spirit. They will wear Scottish flags with Davidson’s badge number on their jerseys, and his bicycle will accompany them along the route. Davidson’s sister Janie Robinson is travelling from Scotland to ride alongside.
“Myself and my family were unaware of the impact the Tour de Valley cycle tour has, and when I realized the part he played, and the profound effect it had on John, I just thought it was important that I should take his place this year,“ Robinson said.
“I just thought it was important to carry on the good work he had done.”
The team is inviting the public to a fundraising event on May 27, where the community will get to know those riding in this year’s Tour de Valley.
Here are the fundraising pages for the Abbotsford police officers:
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