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VIDEO: Ride 2 Survive Langley tree chipping event sets a record

There were more trees, and people were donating more per tree, organizer says
Dan Ferguson
Dan Ferguson
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Steve Harvey of Bartlett Tree Experts feeds trees into a chipper on Sunday, Jan. 3 during the annual Ride 2 Survive fundraiser at Willowbrook Shopping Centre, the seventh year that the company has donated its services.(Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

By the time the last vehicle had dropped off the final tree at the Ride 2 Survive (R2S) tree chipping fundraiser at Willowbrook Shopping Centre in Langley, Brian Thornburn knew they’d set a record.

“It was a zoo,” Thornburn said of the two-day event that wrapped up on Sunday, Jan, 3.

He meant that in a good way.

The event raised $7,701.55, well above the previous best of $4,050 recorded last year.

All donations are going to benefit the B.C. Cancer Society through Ride2Survive and the Tour De Valley events, Thornburn said.

READ MORE: There will be fewer tree chipping events in Langley this year, but they will occur

Thornburn was seeing more trees than usual dropped off, and bigger donations.

“People have been giving larger amounts,” Thornburn noticed.

At the end of the last day, volunteers from Bartlett Tree Experts filled three big trucks with wood chips, plus a pickup truck, the most ever.

“It’s seven years they’ve [Bartlett Tree Experts] done it for us,” a grateful Thornburn remarked.

There were enough trees chipped on Sunday to fill three Bartlett trucks and a pickup truck.

READ ALSO: Langley Christmas tree chipping event a win-win for residents and fundraiser

Thornburn, a paramedic with the BC Ambulance Infant Transport Team, hosts the Christmas tree chipping event to raise money for Ride 2 Survive (R2S) which raises funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.

In June, assuming the pandemic doesn’t prevent it, he will ride 400 kilometres from Kelowna to Delta, covering a climb of more than 12,000 vertical feet.

Ride2Survive is a registered non-profit society.

Every dollar raised by participants is used for research and sometimes cancer treatment equipment purchases, while the costs associated with the ride are borne by participants and sponsors.

Since 2005, the event has raised more than $9 million that has gone directly to cancer researcher’s projects.


dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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There was a constant flow of traffic at the annual Ride 2 Survive fundraiser at Willowbrook Shipping centre on Saturday, Jan. 2 and Sunday, Jan. 3 (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
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‘It was a zoo’ said a pleased Brian Thornburn of the huge response to the annual Ride 2 Survive wood chipping fundraiser on the Saturday, Jan. 2 weekend. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I’m the guy you’ll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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