Garfinkel’s and Dark Star help RCMP subhead: Whistler businesses chip in services By Paul Andrew Twenty-four RCMP officers will launch a six-day, 600 km ride for cancer research from Myrtle Philip school on Sept. 27. Const. Trish MacCormick of the Whistler RCMP detachment will be representing this municipality on the ride. MacCormick and her colleagues are taking on the challenge of riding from Whistler to Hope and back to Vancouver to raise money for research into the cause of cancer in young children. Pledges of support can be made by contacting the Whistler RCMP, or, you can check out the Dark Star gig Sept. 17 at Garfinkel’s Pub in Village North. Admission is $3 per person. "I’m taking the band to another level and I think the rest of the band is serious about it," says Douglas Kerr, who leads the band. Kerr added that if you miss the show Sept. 17 at Garfinkel’s, Dark Star is performing on Bowen Island Sept. 18 and will provide a ride for anyone who wants to go to the gig. A variety of sponsors and local businesses have chipped in to help the RCMP and Lower Mainland city police endeavour. Lawrence Black, owner of Black’s Pub in Whistler Village, will cover the bill for dinner Sept. 24 at Black’s Original Ristorante, feeding 24 hungry cops three days before the ride takes off. The weekend before the ride, all ride participants will be housed free of charge in one of five Whistler hotels. In addition, a fund-raiser Sept. 14 at Buffalo Bill’s Comedy Night raised some $10,000. So what will these fit bikers use for the 600 kilometre journey? Nothing but the best, says MacCormick. "Trek Bicycles has donated the use of its year 2000 road model. The bikes are worth about $3,500 and they’re not on the market yet. Our bike suits are provided by Adidas and the shorts are given to us by Sugoi. I guess they’re working pretty hard for us at The Canadian Cancer Society in Vancouver," MacCormick reckoned. The pack of well-meaning officers hopes to raise at least $250,000 toward the study of child related cancer through their ride. McCormick says at least seven Lower Mainland communities will be visited on the route, with the Ramada Hotel chain picking up the tab wherever the officers have to bed down for the night. However, it’s not all fun and games for the men and women officers. "Each participant is charged with raising money in their own community," MacCormick said. "So you can pledge me as a rider by contacting me at the Whistler RCMP by calling my direct line, 905-1953, up until Sept. 27. And we could use a good crowd that day when we all take off for the ride. It’ll be around 9 a.m. at Myrtle Philip."
