Thursday, June 18, 2020
VOLUME 2 I ISSUE 51
MERIDIANSOURCE.CA
Cancer crusader soldiers on GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. Lloydminster kids’ cancer-fighting crusader, Jarrod Russell, will be wearing his heart on his sleeve during this year’s Great Cycle Challenge in August. The 44-year-old childhood cancer survivor will take part in his fifth annual challenge ride to raise funds for the SickKids Foundation in Toronto in support of cancer research and treatment for kids. Russell’s cycle challenge experience has led him to set a goal o f ridi ng 1,200 ki lo metres around town, more than he did in previous years. “I’m pushing myself more in kilometres to see how far I can go,” said Russell during a recent training ride. “If I reach it or don’t reach it, it’s for the joy of riding for the kids. They can’t come and play and ride their bikes. They are stuck in the hospital.” Russell hopes to add to the $113,048 he has
raised during his first four challenge rides as the top fundraiser across Canada. He will ride as an enlisted member of Alex’s Army, formed to kick cancer’s butt in August. “Alex is one of the sick kids at the Toronto hospital fighting Stage 4 cancer,” said Russell. “It’s motivating to see the kids that are fighting for their own lives, and their families just can’t do anything about it.” COVID-19 put SickKids on lock-down and postponed the cycle challenge from June to August. Russell, however, is up to the challenge and had already raised more than $1,400 in his first week of training with his sister Tanya Roberston cheer-leading the way. “We’ve always admired Jarrod for his willpower and his strength to take on this challenge,” she said. “This year more than any, it’s probably more of a challenge than it
has been in the past with COVID-19 and everything that’s going on.” Russell is living at his sister’s farm north of Lloydminster until the pandemic subsides and he can return to his suite at Hearthstone Place. He can’t ride his recumbent bike from the Robertson’s farm, so he leaves it at Rusway Construction, which his family owns, to ride into Bud Miller All Seasons Park. “As long as the weather is good he can go out. We’ve also got a bike and a rower at home. If the weather isn’t great that day, he’ll just row at home or put his bike on the lift and bike on that,” said Robertson. “When he’s out and about, even at Bud Miller, he’s talked about the differences during COVID-19 of not many people around, and you can see that in the community.” Robertson says her brother loves to get out with people and socialize, but that’s been
Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Jarrod Russell is getting ready to take part in his fifth Great Cycle Challenge in August to fight kids’ cancer. He and his sister Tanya Robertson talked about the impact of COVID-19 on Russell’s quest at Bud Miller All Seasons Park.
challenging as well. Russell says with COVID-19, it’s safer to cycle with less traffic, but he does miss the people and the kids on his park rides. “It’s like a dark hole here,” he said, adding the weather hasn’t been great either. “I’m struggling through it.” COVID-19 has also
cancelled plans to host a big fundraising event to celebrate Russell’s fifth year of fundraising for SickKids. “This year, just with the challenges people are facing even financially and the job losses and having the pandemic set back those dates until August, we’re understanding this is going
to look a little different than it has in the past,” said Roberston. “Jarrod will be looking for donations in August and you can give him donations right now.” Donations can be made on the Great Cycle Challenge website by clicking the donations link then typing in his name.