Time to Ride:

RocketHouse -- "All for One and One for Al." -- Riding in honour of Allan Stickle and our fallen friends.

Most of you know that for the last five seasons I have been the MC for the Ride To Conquer Cancer all across Canada. I have now worked over 30 cancer events, but got my first opportunity to participate as both the Emcee and a Rider in 2017 after a dear friend lost his life to cancer on January 5th, 2017. The experience of riding was transformational for me. Other Riders shared their stories; we cried, we hugged, we chugged beers -- now I just want to keep riding. And, unfortunately, I have many more people this year to ride for. And it's not just those diagnosed with cancer but also their families and friends, because we're all trying to figure out what to do with ourselves once they are gone. Luckily, the Ride is a purposeful catharsis.

Allan Stickle was the best. He had a gritted molasses voice, an undeniable, lush, silver moustache, and a cowboy geniality that taught us all how to be gentlemen. Al was kind to the bone. He had been a fire chief, a rancher, and then an actor. He saved the lives of dozens and worked hard to make every living moment brighter. No favour was ever too big to ask, and every phrase repeated in his voice was suddenly epic. He battled the crap out of his cancer. It was furious, it was widespread, but he got up every time that it hit him and he hit it back, hard. Al was a hero. And still is my hero.

I've seen the camaraderie the Ride creates. I've seen the survivors brought back from the brink of death by the research and care the Ride funds. Now, I ride for Al. I ride for my friend, Brian. For Cat. For Jim and Tracey. I ride for Grumps and Oma and my Opa. For my father-in-law, Ron. They fought for their last breaths. Some of them are still fighting and some are survivors. Together we'll keep their fight going.

--Steve