A Squamish father/daughter team is taking to the road June 19-20 to travel more than 200 kilometres by bike to raise money for cancer research and to honour a wife and mother with a rare form of leukemia.
Randy Scott and his 17-year-old daughter Devyn are joining thousands of men and women taking part in the 2010 Ride to Conquer Cancer benefitting the BC Cancer Foundation by riding from Vancouver to Seattle over two days.
"I'm so very proud of them," said Elizabeth Scott, the namesake and inspiration for 'Team Liz'. "To do this, my husband isn't taking part in the Test of Metal because of the date conflict, and my daughter isn't going to her final dance performance as a graduating student from the Howe Sound Dance Academy, which falls on the Saturday night, which must have been difficult for her."
A mother of three who has been active in the community as a volunteer and past president of the Squamish Rotary Club, Scott was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia two and a half years ago.
"There's no cure," she said. "It's so rare, and so few people are diagnosed with it, that there really isn't even any research into it."
Despite not being in remission, and little hope for a cure, Scott can still maintain a somewhat normal life thanks to a chemotherapy pill she must take every day.
"It limits what I am able to do," she said. "I retired a year and a half ago, but I still try to volunteer and keep active."
Scott's disease, in addition to inspiring Team Liz to take to the road, has also further inspired daughter Devyn to make plans to attend university and become a pediatric oncologist one day.
"She wants to help children with cancer," Scott said. "Even now thinking about it, it brings tears to my eyes."
Originally, Team Liz had hoped to raise $6,000 for the BC Cancer Foundation through the ride, but they've already earned $8,820 in donations to date - so they've set their sights higher.
"They now hope to raise $10,000 by the time the ride goes on June 19," said Scott.
To help the team reach its goal visit www.conquercancer.ca, click on BC and enter "Team Liz", or call 888-771-BIKE(2453).
