The Tribune

THE CB Pirates, a 10-member cycling team, pedalled a combined total of 250 miles raising $3,000 during the ninth annual Ride for Hope (R4H) biking event in New Providence last month. The ride is held annually to raise funds to aid the fight against cancer.

The Commonwealth Bank team, a green sponsor of the ride, headed to the starting line with the plan of biking 20 miles each, but once at the start and with the excitement swirling, the Pirates added an additional five miles to their overall individual goals.

“The Bank is excited about having had the opportunity to participate as a corporate sponsor in the 2015 R4H charity event,” said Anthea Cox, Vice President Human Resources and Training. “Over the years the Bank has made donations to the fight against cancer.However, the R4H event gave our employees the opportunity to come together as a team and give back by soliciting donations and cycling for a worthy cause.”

Like so many of the participants riding in support and honour of a friend or family member who either survived or whose life was lost due to cancer, it was the same for a few members of the team.

“The R4H was a warm and exciting experience,” said Lavado Butler, Manager of the Wulff Road branch. “Exciting because it was the first time participating with friends and co-workers who also enjoyed themselves and warm because of the opportunity to contribute to such a worthy cause, especially having lost my mother to cancer. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

The memory of a grandfather and two granduncles who died from cancer and a cancer surviving co-worker gave one rider the strength to continue the ride.

“At about the 15 mile mark, I gave brief thought to quitting the ride,” Stephen Johnson, Manager of the Town Centre Mall branch, said. “However I was motivated by the reason for Ride for Hope and continued on to achieve the goal.”

Giselle Bowe rode to honour her grandfather who is battling the disease.

The members of the team also included Shacoeya Hanna, Deitra Delancy, Jude Hart, Carrington Johnson, Kenneth Rolle, Juliet Johnson and Latoya Jones.

“It was an enjoyable experience for the CB cyclists and they are all looking forward to the 2016 Valentine’ Day R4H event,” said Mrs Cox of the bank’s participation in next year’s event.