On my first Battlefield Bike Ride with Wounded Warriors Canada in 2019, four of us from Lake Country, BC got together to form the Okanagan Chain Gang. Together, we raised over $25,000 for the work that WWC does for our veterans and first responders suffering with mental disorders as a result of their work to serve and protect us.
The Okanagan Chain Gang, myself, Bob Harding, Paula Callan and Peter Cox at the grave of Sgt. D. Mills at the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. Sgt Mills was Bob’s uncle. He was killed in action near Caen, France, shortly after Operation Overlord, the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
… And then there were two!
In 2022, the first BBR post-pandemic, the Okanagan Chain Gang was reduced to just two riders, Bob Harding and myself. Still, we represented Lake Country very well, raising over $22,000 and captured the Juno Beach Centre flag for highest fundraising total. The flag was later presented to the Vernon Cadet Camp Museum.
… And now for the Breaking News!
For this year’s version of the Battlefield Bike Ride, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Canadian Army’s role in the Italian campaign in World War 2, I was certain that I would be riding on my own. Bob, and his wife Evelyn, just bought a new house and decided that another BBR just wasn’t in the books. I was on my own!
That was until today when my other half, Karen Wantke (the much younger and much prettier half), registered to ride BBR23 with me. The Okanagan Chain Gang lives!
BBR will be part of our larger, 5 week, cycling tour of Italy and Malta. Follow our ride.
You can support Karen’s fundraising campaign by going to http://www.BBR23.ca, click on the Donate button and enter her name, Karen Wantke, under individual, or enter Okanagan Chain Gang under Team. Thank you for your support!
Honour the Fallen; Help the Living
BBR23 - 80RTONA 