An Okotoks resident has begun raising money for cancer research and she is dangling a carrot of a hand-painted portrait for anyone who donates $200 or more.

Okotoks resident Renee Carrier painted this watercolour portrait last year as part of her fundraising efforts to participate in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer. Carrier is offering to paint a portrait for anyone who donates $200 or more again this year.

For the second year in a row Renee Carrier is trying to drum up enough money to participate in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer long-distance cycling fundraiser.

The entry fee is $2,500, but she managed to raise $3,500 last year. This year she is raising the bar to $4,000. However, raising money has been more difficult this year than last.

“I didn’t anticipate (the earthquakes in) Haiti and Chile and the other needs,” said Carrier.

Widespread fundraising efforts are affecting the flow of cash she has been able to land.

“Big time,” Carrier said. “Most of my big donors, that donated $200 or more last year, said they can donate $50 this year. It’s mostly because of the economy and the other needs.”

As a result, Carrier has been changing her approach.

“I’m doing more to get smaller donations in,” said Carrier. “My big one last year was if people donated over $200 then I’d paint them a portrait. This year if people donate $50 their names go into a draw for a portrait.”

Carrier is also planning on holding a party in her home on April 17 for various vendors to sell their goods, manufactured and homemade. Goods will include hand-made jewelry, quilts and Tupperware.

“There will be a bunch of different vendors and a portion of the money they spend will go towards the Ride,” said Carrier.

Carrier’s passion to raise money for the Ride to Conquer Cancer comes from the vast number of people who are affected by cancer through a diagnosis or the diagnosis of a loved one.

“I’ve lost aunts, uncles and close friends and I’ve had lots of friends who’ve been touched by it and recovered,” said Carrier. “If we (Carrier and her nuclear family) were to count the people that we’ve lost, it’s on one hand, but if it’s the people that it has touched, it’d take all our fingers and toes and that’s just our one little family.”

This year she is not only motivated to do something to help. This year she is also driven by the experience she had last year overcoming obstacles, connecting with others in the same challenge and the feeling the sense of accomplishment at the end of the fundraising and a weekend of riding 100km per day.

“It’s amazing,” said Carrier. “Feeling the intensity and the emotion in the air – the whole weekend was like that. Everyone worked hard and felt really good about what we’re doing.”

This year the Ride to Conquer Cancer takes place on June 26 and 27 and will involve a 100km ride each day.

“Last year I joined with a partner and then we hooked up with other riders and everyone was from different walks of life and we had a common cause that brought us together,” said Carrier. “And nobody had any personal gain, it was all for the greater good.”

Carrier is glad she had a partner and an extended team to meet the challenges of fundraising and the physical challenges of the ride.

“When you ride long distance you hit these emotional lows and it’s nice to have someone with you,” said Carrier. “If anyone is interested in joining the ride or to talk about what it’s about and what is involved, contact me. It was such an amazing experience.”

Funds raised through the Ride to Conquer Cancer are divided between administrative costs of the event and cancer research. Last year 45 per cent of the funds raised paid for the costs of the event, which include food, portable toilets along the bike route and working with local police to ensure safety for cyclists along highways. A total of $3.9 million, which was 55 per cent of the funds raised, supported cancer research including looking at the mind-body connection in relation to cancer and how lifestyle affects the likelihood of getting cancer.

To make a donation to Carrier for the Ride to Conquer Cancer go to her webpage at www.conquercancer.ca/goto/reneecarrier

For more information about the mission, joining her team or the sale at her home on April 17, call Carrier at 403-938-2405.

tneely@okotoks.greatwest.ca

1 Click Here to 'Like' this post

 Email This Post  Print This Post