Search and rescue operations are on the rise. As more and more people take to the trails and ski runs of Vancouver's North Shore mountains, the demand on North Shore Rescue, most recently at 130 calls a year, has steadily increased since its founding in 1965. North Shore Rescue is a community-based search and rescue team of 40 volunteers with skills in search and rescue operations in mountain, canyon and urban settings to provide a life-saving service to the public, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In support of North Shore Rescue, the Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise held its 11th Annual Rotary Ride for Rescue on June 11th, 2022. The event is a fundraising road and mountain bike ride up West Vancouver’s Cypress Mountain which involved 90, Rotarians and other volunteers as bike riders or organizers. It included a pancake breakfast and prizes after the ride at the British Pacific Properties Cypress village on Cypress mountain. -- photos by Tania Ryan
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West Vancouver Sunrise Rotary President and Ride for Rescue event chair, Karen Harrison, was delighted to report that, with an event goal of $100,000 the final proceeds reached $132,000 -- the largest amount raised to date through the event. Many past, loyal corporate sponsors and several new ones contributed $45,000 in sponsorship. The rest of the funds raised are from registration fees and registered cyclists getting pledges or donations. Prizes like a helicopter ride with North Shore Rescue were awarded to top fundraisers.
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While the main beneficiary of funds raised was North Shore Rescue proceeds from the Ride for Rescue also contributed to the Rotary club’s community and international projects such as: Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, Station 1, West Vancouver; West Vancouver Police Pulling Together Canoe program for indigenous youth; Bikes for Girls in Africa; Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative (an environmental project).
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