by Lisa Dalla Vecchia

Alex Conconi, a current student in the full-time Master of Financial Risk Management (MFRM) program and active participant in the Student Investment Advisory Service (SIAS Fund) recently completed the ride of a lifetime to raise funds for cancer research.

In recent times, he had been spending a significant amount of time organizing a team for the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer, a two-day cycling event from Vancouver to Seattle, in benefit of the BC Cancer Foundation. This would be Alex’s second year participating, and this year, he co-captained an enthusiastic team of 21, the “Knight Riders,” who collectively maintained an ambitious goal of raising $100,000.

On June 18 and 19, the “Knight Riders” joined over 2,800 cyclists for a gruelling ride—over 200 km over two days—and one that took place mostly in the rain.

When the team gathered in celebration at the finish line, the rain subsided, the sun came out, and fatigued-but-triumphant smiles were on display for all to see.

The ride is especially important to Alex. On a very personal level, his father had been diagnosed with throat cancer last summer (shortly after last year’s ride). Fortunately, he has since been given a clean bill of health. Alex credits his father’s recovery to the great work of the BC Cancer Agency, its medical team and dedicated staff.

Alex would like to thank all of those who generously supported the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer. This year, the ride helped raised over $11.1M for the BC Cancer Foundation. The “Knight Riders” raised over $74,000 of that total amount.

Alex would also like to thank his fellow MFRM classmate and SIAS organizer Lauren Looi, who committed to the ride without even owning a bike. Lauren was able to source a bicycle a few days before the ride. And despite virtually no training or practice, Lauren joined the team and successfully completed the 200+ km trek from Vancouver to Seattle.

To support the Knight Riders and learn more about the Ride to Conquer Cancer, visit: http://www.conquercancer.ca/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=1371&team_id=37141