By Kurt Langmann

Black Press

Team Alliance cyclists may not be "spring chickens" but they keep fit by undertaking regular and grueling rides up mountains and across the province.

On July 8 the 15 members and supporters travelled from Surrey to Hope in their third annual "Ride for Hope," a fundraiser for the Canuck Place Children's Hospice.

This one-day ride covers just under 100 miles through Langley, Aldergrove, Abbotsford, Mission, Agassiz and Chilliwack, before arriving in Hope for a sumptuous and well-deserved banquet.

Last year's ride raised over $25,000 for Canuck Place, more than twice as much as the first ride, and the team hopes to double the cash amount once again this year.

Team Alliance director, Jeff Bandura of Aldergrove, is well known in his hometown as a hockey coach but it's his passion for cycling that has taken him far and wide in the sport.

"Team Alliance is a team of like-minded athletes who enjoy achieving their athletic goals by competing and racing in both road and mountain bike events," said Bandura.

"We pursue and advocate a healthy, active lifestyle and promote the sport of cycling and our sponsors. We are Category 1 through 4 racers, and we are beginning to build a strong women's membership."

The goal of their 15 members is to develop and enhance their bike racing skills and to support bicycle racing within the Greater Vancouver area. They accomplish this goal by promoting one of the top amateur races in the region, the BC Cup Road Racing Series (www.cycling.bc.ca) which draws hundreds of racers yearly from British Columbia and Washington State.

They support the local racing scene by fielding an active racing team that competes in local and national events (see www.teamalliance.ca).

Members of Team Alliance, including Bandura, have participated in the grueling Transrockies Challenge (www.transrockies.com) in all of its five years.

As well as supporting Canuck Place, they have been participating in the BC Cancer Foundation's “Ride to Survive” (www.coastalcycling.com) to help fundraise for cancer research.

"Team Alliance's donations to charitable causes are an important aspect of the team," said Bandura. "The Ride for Hope is one of the few fundraisers whereby all – that is 100 per cent - of the money raised goes to Canuck Place. Be a part of this amazing day. Check out the link on our website to make a donation that can help the kids."