On the day that Dominique Bussieres, a 35-year-old constable with Ridge Meadows, graduated from RCMP training depot, her mother announced she had cancer in both breasts.

That was July 5, 2010.

"She waited until I finished school because she knew I would worry," said Bussieres. "She knew before but didn't tell me."

Bussieres wants to do more than just donate money to the cause.

"I'm doing the ride because I've personally been affected by it. I love biking and like the idea of this team," Bussieres explained.

"It's like a holiday for me, because my holidays are always full of sports and it will combine doing something for a good cause while having fun," she said.

The Cops for Cancer team was out in full force on Thursday as they gathered to train in Pitt Meadows.

The group - of about 25 riders - and a police escort took off from Harris Road Park for an 80-kilometre training ride, which helped prepare them for the Sept. 19 to 27 fundraising ride.

Bussieres was not able to attend the training session because she was working, but she was out fundraising on the weekend. Bussieres sold hotdogs at Thrifty Foods on Saturday and held a pub night at the Black Sheep Pub on Sunday. Each participant has to raise at least $6,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) to qualify for the tour.

Four-year Cops for Cancer veteran Bob Lee works for B.C. Ambulance Service and he is passionate about the cause and about where the money goes.

"[CCS's] Camp Goodtimes is a camp where children who have or have had cancer can go into the camp and just be a kid again, as opposed to a patient. That is one of the coolest parts of all of this," he said.

"There are medical personnel at the camp who can help them should something go awry. And the camp allows for families of those children to come in and be a family again." Lee added, "It's about the kids - it's also the kid who decides 'I want to give my allowance to this cause' - that is neat."

"These guys behind me, they are really committed, they care about the community, care about the program, and these cops are committed to this ride."

This is a big year for Cops for Cancer as it is their 15th year, said Tour de Coast organizer Shivani Malli.

"We have 33 riders this year, which is the biggest number we have ever had. We even had a waiting list," Malli added.

smclaren@mrtimes.com