Young ambition
Sidney North Saanich RCMP Cons. Kyle Martell is the youngest of the riders to tackle the Tour de Rock.
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Updated: July 21, 2009 3:25 PM
RCMP Const. Kyle Martell is the “baby” of the Tour de Rock family.
It’s not a testament to blubbering over blisters (though there are likely to be many as the team traverses the Island this fall), it’s simply that when he had his birthday in early June, Martel turned 22.
“I’m the baby,” the Halifax, N.S. native readily admits. “There’s debate I’m the youngest rider ever.”
While he came straight to the Sidney North Saanich RCMP detachment from training in Regina nearly two years ago, there are Tour de Rock riders this year who’ve been police officers longer than Martell’s been on the planet. Like, he adds with a grin, Const. Richard Boyle of Westshore RCMP and Const. Diane Schwager of Campbell River RCMP.
Though the baby of the team, Martell, a former rugby player with the Halifax Tars RFC, won’t be doing any bawling despite the intense training for the demanding ride.
The 23 riders, made up mostly of cops from across the Island with a couple of media members added in, are putting in hundreds of kilometres, training three times a week with focus shifting from distance to hills and then speed.
The young policeman is honoured to be one of the 23 riders chosen for the Canadian Cancer Society Cops for Cancer 2009 Tour de Rock team that will cycle from Port Alice to Victoria.
“Cancer is something that affects everyone, no matter who you are,” Martell says.
“It’s not until a child looks at you and says ‘Why did cancer pick me? I just want to be home with mommy’ that it makes you think twice about how lucky each of us are each day just to be healthy.”
Martell feels fortunate to never have had cancer claim a loved one, but knows no one should have to deal with what children with cancer endure. That’s part of the reason he signed on for the 927-kilometre bike ride.
“You get the satisfaction of knowing that at the end of the day after that big hill, you’re doing it for those kids,” he says. That’s his goal, to raise money. Initially he sees little personal gain from the ride, aside from the camaraderie.
“Seeing the riders last year ... you get life experience,” Martell says. “I’m still young, it will give me a new perspective on life.”
The Tour de Rock ride raises funds for the Canadian Cancer Society for cancer research, detection, diagnosis, treatment and support for children and their families. One of those supports is the well-known Camp Goodtimes, where 200 children attend every year.
The 13-day ride starts Sept. 19 in Port Alice and wraps up Oct. 2 in Victoria with fundraising stops along the way.
“Give what you can to help these sick kids have the life they deserve,” Martell says. “I will raise as much money as I can for these kids.”
