The father a 25-year-old New Westminster woman who garnered international attention for her battle with Cystic Fibrosis managed to wheel past his $65,000 fundraising goal in a recent cross-province bike ride.
Bill Markvoort pedaled his way from the coast of British Columbia to the Rocky Mountains of Banff as a part of the 1,200-kilometre GearUp4CF fundraiser in memory of his daughter, Eva Markvoort, who he lost to the fatal genetic disease four years ago.
Eva, a charismatic theatre student, wrote a blog, called 65_RedRoses, chronicling her fight against the disease and her quest for a lung transplant. She was also featured in an acclaimed documentary by the same name.
The phrase 65 Roses is significant in the CF community - it's how some young children pronounce cystic fibrosis.
Bill turned 65 this year and decided it was time to honour the noteworthy birthday and make it his fundraising goal.
Bill managed to surpass his goal, raising a whopping $77,000 (330-plus individuals donated). The entire GearUp fundraiser was the most-successful year yet - bringing in more than $370,000 to help fight cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects most critically the lungs.
The ride, from June 21 to 29, went "extremely well," for Bill, minus a couple of rough days in the rain.
"You are almost disappointed when it's over," said Bill, who enjoyed the camaraderie he found with the other riders.
Some of the people Bill rode with are CF survivors, which he said was "emotional" for him.
There were also moments of remembering Eva. She was there at the finish line in Banff, cheering Bill on when he rode in 2008.
"I wish she had gotten a good set of lungs and been able to ride," Bill said.
Still he found comfort in knowing that he and his wife, Janet Brine, are carrying on their daughter's legacy.
"I think she'd be pretty proud of her mom and dad," he said.
It's not too late to donate - visit 65for65roses.blogspot.ca.
