Gold Wing Road Riders Association
Dave Hay Assistant National Director
Rider Education-Canada
THE 95% PERCENTERS
There is an understanding in Law Enforcement that the "clients" we deal with day in and day out, (our job security) comprise only about 5% of the population but cause all the problems. By simple math that would mean that 95% of the population are a source of good experiences. This is really reinforced for me every September and October when I head off on the Cops for Cancer Tour De Rock here on Vancouver Island. This year was the 9th year for the Tour and again I was blessed to be part of it all. As Escort Team Leader I was on the lead motorcycle and was responsible for getting the riders and Support Team safely to numerous events every day of the two week tour. It is an exhausting job, mentally and physically but worth all the effort required.
Again this year we had a safe and successful ride. It would be fair to say that there were a couple of moments of concern, but planning, expertise and skill paid off in the end. All riders arrived safely in Victoria and the total of donations collected this year was the biggest ever, over $1.6 million and climbing. The Tour fully funded Camp Goodtimes, Camp OgoPogo and Camp Share and Care and all the other support efforts for kids with Cancer. It also funds the vital research that will control and eventually prevent the spread of this horrible disease. I had a chance again this year to see some of the wonderful results that the treatments that have been developed so far, are doing. Some of the kids we saw in previous year who looked just terrible as they clung to life by their fingertips, were there laughing and smiling and thanking US for OUR struggles on the Tour? What we go through on the Tour cannot even be considered struggles when you look what they have gone through. What amazing spirit, what amazing kids. Our futures all look bright when you look through the filters that these kids give us.
The process that makes this event happen each year reflects a real commitment by many unsung background volunteers. They do all the planning months in advance, attend meeting and planning sessions, train the riders in the physical aspects, hold fund-raising events, drive luggage trucks, wash laundry, fit flat tyres, set up roadside buffets in the middle of nowhere and just about everything you can or cannot think of. They do all they do so that the Riders can safely show up at that certain school or shopping centre at the right location and at the right time. They do it out of the limelight because they know that it is how they can personally make a difference. The important thing is the kids with Cancer. As I have been known to say..."I'm not proud to beg...I have met the kids".
In our own way, as participants in the GW Rider Education Programme, as Educators we are the "Support Team" for our "riders". We do many of the same things I just listed above and when the participants show up for the Seminars, Road Captain, PLP or ARC courses we have already done the behind the scene work so that the participants can travel through the course and end up safely as a better trained and educated rider. We take the time to train ourselves and raise our skill levels so that we can use these skills to make safer riders. We donate much of our time and a lot of our own money so that others may benifit. We do it all because we care about people and we want to make a difference. Like the story about the man on the beach who placed the starfish back into the water after the storm, we cannot save every one but we can make a difference in the lives we touch. Thank you for your commitment and that you for your support. You are an essential part of the GWRRA Rider Education "Support Team" and you are appreciated.