A couple of Royal City businessmen were "arrested" Friday, Aug. 29 for insulting the Queen. Their punishment? No less than 14 years behind bars.
The planned arrests were part of the "Jail and Bail" event at the New West detachment, an effort to raise money for the annual Cops for Cancer bike ride organized by the Canadian Cancer Foundation. Of those picked up by Const. Jeff Russell was Richard Crompton, a longtime employee of Key West Ford.
"I imagined what a criminal must feel like when he's waiting to be arrested. Even though it was for fun, it was still unnerving," he said.
After being cuffed and thrown in the back of the cruiser, Crompton was taken to the station. Once his "charges" were read to him, he was given a phone to take into the cell. He then started calling family and friends to raise bail - over $1,500 to be exact.
Meanwhile, Westminster Toyota's Geoff Butt added to the pot and brought in close to $800.
"That was my first experience and hopefully last. It's a great cause and it means a lot to help out children that are battling this challenging disease," he said.
Thirty first-responders from across B.C., including Const. Russell and Det. Andrew Wickham, will bike 900 kilometres throughout the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and Whistler. The tour then extends to Pemberton via the Sea-to-Sky corridor before returning to Vancouver.
"I'm quite new to cycling...initially it's a large distance but when you're riding with 29 other people, it certainly makes a difference in what you can do together as a group," said Russell. He added his training regiment consists of biking to work from his home in downtown Vancouver every other day.
"That has certainly helped. From my understanding, the Cancer Society ensures we get the nutrition we need, the short breaks and that everyone completes the ride without any issues."
The mandated goal for each participant is $6,000 and after Friday's event, the New West duo surpassed the $12,000 mark. A good chunk of that money was collected through a couple of earlier fundraisers, when Russell and Wickham placed a stationary bike on a scissor lift 35 feet above the ground and pedaled.
"The generosity was amazing. An elderly woman came over and said she had lost her family members to cancer," Russell said. "She ended up contributing $300 in cash that day."
Regardless of surpassing their goal, Russell hopes to raise as much money as possible for pediatric cancer. To make a direct donation to his campaign, visit http://convio.cancer.ca/goto/JeffRussell.
