Kathryn Ahvenus and Nick Reimann of the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP on the 10-day Cops for Kids charity ride (submitted photo/RCMP)

By Liam Verster

Charity Ride

Cops for Kids riders to stop in Vernon Saturday

Sep 12, 2022 | 11:13 AM

Over 30 police officers from the Southern Interior will cycle into Vernon Saturday, Sept. 17, as part of the annual Cops for Kids charity ride.

The 32 officers, including five from the Vernon North Okanagan detachment, are participating in a 10-day bike trip to support local children in medical, physical or traumatic crisis.

Denise McMahon, Nick Reimann, Joel Kooger, Kathryn Ahvenus and Jonathan Klassen are the officers from the Vernon detachment participating in the ride.

In order to take part, each rider has committed to raising $2,500 by year’s end to support the cause. Donations can be made through the Cops for Kids website.

“We’ve all been training and fundraising all year in preparation for this journey. To complete this tremendous feat with my colleagues who also chose a life of assisting others is a real honour,” James Moore, a member of the Revelstoke RCMP who participated in the ride in previous years, said.

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“Law enforcement doesn’t always provide us with the positive interactions with members of the public, but our supporters on this ride have been tremendous. We’ve met the nicest folks who wave when they see us cycling, or provide a donation to help the kids. It’s been heartwarming to see.”

The officers left Kelowna Friday, Sept. 7, and their ride will take them through the Southern Interior over to the Kootenays as far as Cranbrook. They will then turn North and head to Golden, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Kamloops, Vernon, before finishing their ride in Kelowna Sunday.

The riders are expected to arrive in Vernon at the RCMP detachment around 3 p.m. Saturday.

The route for the 2022 Cops for Kids charity ride (image courtesy of Cops for Kids /website)

The stop in Vernon is one of several planned during the ride where the officers will meet the children and families they are supporting with this fundraiser. The RCMP invites all members of the public to turn out and meet the riders when they arrive in Vernon.

Cops for Kids was launched in 2001 and to date over $6.1-million has been raised for the cause.