Kevin Nunn is taking on another boundary-busting challenge.
Starting at noon on March 27, the well-known Victoria endurance athlete plans to cycle around UVic’s Ring Road for 24 hours non-stop.
It’s just the latest attempt by Nunn, 63, to turn a Herculean feat into a fundraiser for charity. His previous efforts have included running 60 kilometres from Duncan to Victoria and pulling a car around Ring Road 12 times.
This time he’s out to promote June’s End2End cycling relay, in which Nunn and eight teammates take turns pedalling from Victoria to Port Hardy and back non-stop — that’s more than 1,000 kilometres in less than 48 hours. The relay and associated events are being staged to raise money for the Island Kids Cancer Association, a small, frontline charity that helps the families of cancer-stricken children on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
Why do it? “Because one child with cancer is too many,” Nunn says. Because any adversity he faces during on the relay, or on his 24-hour solo ride, pales beside what those families face.
Nunn will launch his 24-hour ride from a spot near the Student Union Building at noon on Friday, March 27. He plans to go non-stop, pausing only for a few minutes here and there to use the washroom or grab an energy bar or other bit of food.
He hopes the public will support the cause, either by donating directly, supporting an End2End fundraiser, or by paying to join him for a portion of his solo ride at UVic.
“Come out and ride with me,” he says. There’s only one catch: “You’ve got to make a donation before you climb on your bike.” Members of UVic’s cycling team will join him during portions of his ride. So will some End2End teammates.
People who just want to cheer (or make a donation) can swing by UVic, where Nunn’s support crew will be on hand under tents near the Student Union Building. Donations can also be made at end2endcancer.com.
Nunn and his End2End teammates will take part in other fundraising events leading up to the June 16-18 relay. Among them are the Battle of the Dad Bands at Victoria’s Capital Ballroom on April 11, a haircuts-by-donation day at Brothers Barbershop at 770 Fort St. on April 12, a Scotiabank/Victoria Royals-sponsored hockey tournament on May 30 and the Lot Jam music festival at Hoyne Brewery on June 13.
For more information on those and other fundraisers, go to our Events page..
For more about Kevin and his team members, go to our Team page..
Last year’s inaugural End2End relay raised more than $110,000 for the Island Kids Cancer Association.