Everything was set up at Lake Cowichan School, just after 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, Oct. 2.
A number of elementary-aged students were outside with their teachers, cow-bells and pom-poms in hand, ready to create a real ruckus when the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team arrived. The press and TV camera were there. It was time.
Then, suddenly, word came through that the riders would be arriving by truck because there had been an accident and one of them was in Cowichan District Hospital.
So, the kids, the teachers, and the media were whisked into the school gym to join the rest of the school in giving the team a rousing welcome.
And they got one.
The injured rider came back to join the team during their visit later at Palsson Elementary School, taped up, but still standing.
The riders were welcomed and introduced to the crowd, and then vice-principal Del Morgan got the message she’d been dreading: the school had raised $1,000 so she had to get her head shaved onstage.
The crowd went wild as the first cut — always the most critical — was made, and then, under the encouragement of the students, more and more of her hair fell onto the floor.
It’s always a special stop for the Tour de Rock team at Lake Cowichan because they have their lunch at the school.
After they finished there, they mounted their bikes, which had been set up in the school yard, and then rode to Palsson Elementary, under increasingly threatening skies.
However, they found the entire population of Palsson outdoors, lined up against the walls for protection from a strong wind that had blown in, but eager to see the Tour de Rock, and Ryder Racoon.
After spending some time with the kids at Palsson, the team mounted up and made their way out of the Lake area, just before a brief but heavy rainfall hit the town.