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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
About 186,000 new cases of cancer and 76,000 deaths from cancer will occur in Canada this year, according to the Canadian Cancer Society, and a Yellowknife police officer is going to pedal towards reducing those grave statistics.

RCMP Const. Kathy Law is taking part in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer this weekend in Calgary. Law, seen here last Friday, has been training for the bike ride – which encompasses 217 km – since the winter. - Katherine Hudson/NNSL photo

RCMP Const. Kathy Law is taking on the 217-km Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer this weekend, a two-day course that weaves along the Rocky Mountains, beginning and ending in Calgary. She decided to volunteer, along with four of her cousins, to bike for a younger cousin, Karla, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2011. Karla completed her last chemotherapy treatment on June 13.

So far, their team, Karla's Krew, has raised almost $28,000. The money raised for the Alberta Cancer Foundation through the Ride to Conquer Cancer will support patients and families at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton and 15 cancer centres throughout Alberta.

"So many of our residents in the Northwest Territories that battle cancer go for treatment in Alberta. That is reason enough for me to be a part of this," said Law.

Law, 43, said biking is a passion of hers, having mountain biked for years. Over the past five years, she has transitioned to road cycling as well.

"Biking is kind of what I do for enjoyment and exercise," she said.

Throughout the winter, Law rode her bike on a trainer in her house, pedaling 60 km per session. In the warmer weather, she's been cycling to the access road on the Ingraham Trail as well as around the city.

This is the fourth year for the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer. Last year, there were 2,280 riders and $8.8 million was raised, according to Tim Thiessen, corporate team specialist for the event.

"It's pretty amazing, especially when you get a lot of the survivors out there. They ride around with a yellow flag on the back (of their bikes)," said Thiessen.

Riders take off from Spruce Meadows in Calgary on Saturday and ride more than 100 km the first day before settling in for the night in a big field. Participants then start early Sunday to head back toward Calgary.

"It's pretty awesome. You get a lot of people coming out to watch, especially the finish line at Spruce Meadows with everybody rolling in. There's hundreds and hundreds of people lined up cheering them in," she said.

Law's husband, Cam and son Jack will be cheering her on, as well about 15 other family members from Alberta and Saskatchewan.

"We've lost family and friends to cancer. I just envision myself, even on my training rides, I just think about that constantly as I'm riding," said Law. "You start feeling like you're in pain from the ride and from going such a long distance, and it's easier to push through when you're thinking about those who struggled with cancer and trying to get through it, going through chemotherapy and radiation … I can already see the finish line."

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