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Surrey woman to ride 200 kms in support of lung health

Annual Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath fundraiser for the BC Lung Association is Sept. 8-9.
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Surrey’s Sonja Mohrsen gears up for the BC Lung Association’s 28th annual Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath in support of clean air and lung health this Sept. 8 and 9.

Surrey’s Sonja Mohrsen is gearing up to participate in the BC Lung Association’s 28 annual Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath (Trek) this Sept. 8 and 9.

An exhilarating two-day, 200-kilometre scenic ride from White Rock to Cultus Lake, Trek is an annual BC Lung Association fundraiser in support of lung health and clean air.

A veteran "Trekker," this will be the 16th time Mohrsen participates. She does it to honour her mother, who passed away to lung cancer.

“It’s a beautiful ride, and because the BC Lung Association takes care of all the logistical details, it’s a wonderful, worry-free weekend in the outdoors,” said Mohrsen, who rides with her Trek team Spare Tires. “I look forward to seeing everyone every September. Trek is like an annual family reunion.”

“Spare Tires – our team name - came from a stop we made to buy doughnuts while riding one year– and has stuck with us,” says Mohrsen. “We like to dress things up a bit. One year we brought doughnuts to Trek to emphasize our name. Another year we wore spare bicycle tires around our necks, but that wasn’t very comfortable! Now we wear “Krispy Kreme” cycling jerseys.”

To get in shape for the ride Mohrsen rides her bike to work, “It’s a 10-kilometre ride with a couple of hills that are real doozies.”

Mohrsen also participates in other sporting events throughout the year, including half marathons in August and at the end of September.

The event itself is designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist. Recalling her first time tackling the 200-km ride, Mohrsen advises new participants to “just enjoy the ride rather than trying to race.”

Each Trek participant is required to raise a minimum donation of $475 by event day. In return, they travel a fully supported route from start to finish with rest stops and food to fuel their journey.

“People of all ages from all walks of life take it upon themselves to volunteer and raise funds in support of lung health through the BC Lung Association,” says Chris Lam, BC Lung Association development manager. “More important than anything else is the genuine care and effort everyone puts in – participants and volunteers alike – it is truly inspiring.”

“Started by a dozen volunteers 28 ago, Trekkers have helped raise more than $5 million to help fight lung disease. Today Trek consistently attracts as many as 400 cyclists who come out rain or shine,” he added.

For more information about the Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath call the BC Lung Association at 604-731-5864 or toll free at 1-800-665-5864 (outside Greater Vancouver) or visit www.bc.lung.ca.