SURREY — The cast of CBC’s Heartland may be used to riding horses on set, but they are going to be riding motorcycles across the province to meet some of their fans.
Graham Wardle, better known as Ty Borden from the television series, is one of the founders of Cruise with a Cause and he’s excited to travel around the province meeting fans and fundraising for Sophie’s Place.
Wardle, who went to high school in Burnaby, said Cruise with a Cause tries to pick a charity that is underserved or needs more attention. Last year, the cruise raised money and awareness for prostate cancer.
“Our trail boss last year, the guy who led the ride, had a lot of experience raising funds for prostate cancer. My grandfather died of prostate cancer. It’s a good cause and guys don’t like to go to the doctor, so it kind of fit with our thing of going to get tested,†Wardle said.
Sophie’s Place seemed like the perfect charity to choose this year because the TV star can relate to a lot of the kids who are treated there.
“Sophie’s Place was interesting because I’m a survivor of abuse,†said Wardle. “There’s another rider on the ride that’s a survivor of abuse.
“We thought that this is a good cause, it hits close to home and we wanted to sort of talk about it in a positive light. Focusing on a healthy space for kids, being themselves, growing up in a safe space. Sophie’s Place is a great resource for handling children who didn’t have that at some point in their life,†he added.
The ride started on the morning of Monday, Aug. 25 from Sophie’s Place, with their first stop being Whistler later that day. The following stops are Kamloops on Aug. 26, Vernon on Aug. 27, Kelowna on Aug. 28, Princeton and Penticton on
Aug. 29 before rounding of the trip in Chilliwack and back in Surrey on Saturday, Aug. 30.
Autographs and photos with the stars will cost fans $10, with eight of the stars on hand to meet fans at Central City Shopping Centre from 5 to 8 p.m.
Sophie’s Place was started by Sophie Tweed-Simmons, a reality-TV star and daughter of KISS bass player Gene Simmons.
It is the only multidisciplinary child-protection centre in the region dealing with children who have been sexually, emotionally and physically abused.
Sophie’s Place allows collaboration between the RCMP, Ministry of Child and Family Services, medical and trauma screening professionals and volunteer advocates.
For more information visit Cruisewithacause.ca or Twitter.com/CruiseCause.