Nanaimo’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock riders are trading in their road bikes for buckets and sponges Saturday (July 18).

Nanaimo RCMP Auxiliary Const. Kim Irwin and Const. Emma Rutledge are hosting a car wash fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. near the Chevron gas station in the Woodgrove Centre parking lot.

“It’s by donation and we’re just going to wash our little hearts out,” said Irwin. “It costs $1,000 to send a child to Camp Goodtimes. At our car wash, it would be awesome if we came together as a community and sent one child away.”

Tour de Rock T-shirts and hats will also be for sale.

The Tour de Rock raises money to provide supports for children with cancer and their families. Each year, volunteers from police departments around the Island ride from Port Hardy to Victoria to raise funds.

Camp Goodtimes is a summer recreation program run by the Canadian Cancer Society for kids and teens with cancer.

Irwin and Rutledge have kicked their fundraising efforts into high gear this summer.

Through previous fundraisers, Rutledge has raised more than $4,000 – close to her goal of $5,000.

Irwin’s goal is to raise $15,000 – with the help of some community partners.

Until Oct. 2, Moxies restaurant in north Nanaimo is selling a Kimmy X-treme burger – two beef patties, bacon, cheddar, mozzarella and all of the toppings – with $2.50 from each burger going toward Irwin’s campaign.

“It’s big, so make sure you have room in your belly,” said Irwin.

Townsite Grocery is selling special items throughout the summer with proceeds going toward her campaign, as well as hosting a family fun day August 29 in the parking lot off Townsite Road.

“I’ve said I will cut my hair really short if I raise $35,000,” said Irwin.

Rutledge has a beer and burger fundraiser coming up Aug. 8 at the Harewood Arms Pub and a garage sale at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment on August 15.

Irwin said the more the two Nanaimo riders are out in the community, the more awareness they bring to the cause.

“It’s all for the kids,” she said. “If people see us out there more often, then they remember, ‘Oh yeah, Tour de Rock.’”

Black Press and the Nanaimo News Bulletin are proud media sponsors of the Tour de Rock.

For more information or to read more stories about the Tour de Rock and the 2009 rider, please go to www.bclocalnews.com/tour-de-rock/.

reporter@nanaimobulletin.com