Fourteen Cops for Kids cyclists arrived in Vernon Saturday, where they got to see some of the families they’re supporting

It’s not often that you get to meet your heroes, but a half dozen local families did just that when the Cops for Kids peloton pulled into the Vernon RCMP detachment Saturday afternoon, Sept. 13. 

Cops for Kids is a charitable organization that assists children that have suffered a medical, physical or traumatic crisis. Its signature event is the Cops for Kids Ride, happening now. This year, the ride’s 25th year, 14 RCMP members are cycling more than 1,000 kilometres over 10 days throughout the Southern Interior to raise funds for the cause.

Vernon’s Catherine Pitura was among the people Cops for Kids has supported, and she witnessed the cyclists arrive at the local detachment, their second-to-last stop. Pitura’s daughter, Élainne Lariviere, was born three and a half months early, necessitating many trips to the children’s hospital in Vancouver and facilities in Kelowna. 

“I just feel so grateful that we were supported in a really tough, heavy time,” Pitura said. “They helped lighten the burden and just make us feel like we were not alone.”

Cops for Kids provides a wide variety of supports to families. In Pitura’s case, help came in the form of gas cards for their travel when they had to drive to Kelowna for care every day for a month and a half. 

Little Élainne is doing well these days and the family gets to live a normal life now. 

“She’s a little miracle baby, and she had a lot of support and love and prayers,” Pitura said. 

Meeting the Cops for Kids riders was a special moment for Pitura. 

“To be able to put a face to the support and the organization just makes it more human and more community oriented.”

Const. Nick Reimann is in his 12th year of cycling with Cops for Kids. 

“We’re almost there, almost done. That was the last long day,” Reimann said moments after completing the ninth day of the journey, which saw the riders pedal 115 kilometres from Kamloops to Vernon. They’re at about 950 kilometres total so far and will surpass 1,000 kilometres when they finish in Kelowna Sunday morning. 

Reimann said  the riders were all complaining about aches and pains at this point in the ride, but as soon as they saw the families they’re supporting and heard their stories, those pains evaporated. 

“When we hear the stories about the families, we’re ready to jump on our bike right now,” he said.

“It’s in our communities. We know where the funds are going. We have that live in front of us with the families sharing their stories. That’s what keeps me going.”

In the last 25 years, Cops for Kids has raised more than $6.5 million for children in need. 

“At the core of this ride, beyond the kilometres travelled or the physical efforts required, are the children and families we serve,” said RCMP Cpl. Tania Finn. 

In just 247 days this year, Cops for Kids has received 273 grant applications. Finn said these aren’t just statistics, they are all “desperate calls from parents who are overwhelmed, frightened and uncertain about how they’ll get their child to the care that they need.”

This year, Cops for Kids has covered 2,500 nights at Ronald McDonald House, giving parents a place to stay close to their sick child without the financial burden. It has provided more than $16,000 in fuel cards, has paid for autism assessments, purchased medical equipment and provided emergency dental care and wheelchairs, among other initiatives. 

Visit copsforkids.org to make donations or get updates on the ride.