Twenty-four Cops for Kids riders and six support crew arrived safely back to Kelowna on Sunday morning after 10 days of bike riding through the Southern Interior of British Columbia on their annual Cops for Kids Ride 2008 to raise funds and awareness for children in crisis!

This year, Cops for Kids Riders, including Columbia Valley RCMP detachment Cst. Derek Balderston, have raised over $165,000.00 during the ride with special thanks to the strong support received by the many sponsors, communities and service clubs along the route. With the substantial in-kind gifts for accommodations and meals, Cops for Kids are able to focus their full financial support directly to children.

Our goal was to raise awareness and much needed funds to help support children and their families in mental, physical, and emotional crisis.

“More people along the route are aware of the charity, which makes individual donations more frequent,” says rider Garth Letcher a retired RCMP constable. “We also had the opportunity to spread the word to the towns that we want to help.

"This year we were pleased to present cheques to five children and their families to assist them as they work through a medical crisis. These presentations took place in Penticton, Grand Forks, Castlegar and Kamloops."

Cops for Kids riders are made up of mainly current serving RCMP members that are looking for ways to support and give back to the communities in which they serve, while building solid, positive relationships with community members.

If you know of a child that may need the support of Cops for Kids please visit our Web site to fill out the online grant application at www.copsforkids.org.

The Cops for Kids Charitable Foundation raises funds all year round to help support children with mental, physical and emotional crisis in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. Cops for Kids organize a variety of fundraising events throughout the summer and fall. The main fundraising event is the annual Cops for Kids Bike ride presented by Lake City Casinos. Detachments throughout the Interior work together with the riders to benefit children in our communities.