Over two days, VCH occupational therapist Dave Robens is riding from Vancouver to Seattle for a cause that is very close to his heart.
“I want to do this ride for the nine people in my immediate family know who were diagnosed with cancer in 2012,” he says. “Six of whom are or were in their thirties.”
Dave is registered in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, an event taking place from June 15 to 16 to raise money for the BC Cancer Foundation.
Dave says he’s riding for a lot of people.
“Debra Karby, was a friend since high school and dear friend of my wife who passed away last fall from liver cancer,” he says. “Oded Mizrahi, a high school and university friend who passed away this winter from a rare form of colon cancer. Lorne Balshine, my uncle who died last fall from pancreatic cancer. Ruth Hess Dolgin, the mother of a childhood friend who also died this past fall as a result of cancer. Erin Bell, a dear friend and colleague currently surviving treatment for breast cancer. Murray Allen, a dear friend and soccer teammate currently surviving post treatment for metastases after two bouts of testicular cancer. Ginaya Peters, a friend and dear friend of my wife who has now been deemed clear after surviving treatment for breast cancer. Toby, a friend and dear friend of my wife who is currently thriving after her treatment for breast cancer. Doug Seymour, my friend, and a great neighbour to my parents for the last 34 years who recently survived treatment for cancer.”
“All of these people were treated by VCH who gave them the best care possible,” he adds.
Dave says the people in his life affected by cancer are truly inspiring to himself and his wife and daughter.
“Tara, my wife and Molly, my daughter have been growing their hair to donate it to make wigs,” he says. “I participated in 
Movember and now The Ride. It’s truly inspirational to us to see how positive and strong these people and their loved ones have been throughout the whole process – and how strong many of them continue to be.”
To find out more about Dave’s ride, go to the BC Cancer Foundation site and enter 273695-0 or Dave Robens.