Battle in the saddle on weekend

Participants in a stationary cycling challenge were putting a positive spin on the fight against cancer on the weekend.

The first Battle in the Saddle was held at Heritage Place Shopping Centre on Saturday. Three teams of 8-10 riders raised money for research into breast, ovarian and cervical cancer. More than $3,000 was raised from the event, which saw team members take turns riding stationary bikes for 10 hours straight.

For Karen Garvie of Owen Sound, the event was a chance to help the Canadian Cancer Society after it helped her.

Garvie was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2011. While receiving treatment in Kitchener she stayed at a lodge minutes away from the hospital.

She is also in a 10-year breast cancer study which has an aim of reducing the amount of radiation treatment people have to go through.

"You just have to give back when you have been helped," said Garvie. "Any money that goes into cancer can only help this community, to come up with a potential cure or treatment that is going to make people's lives a better quality."

Garvie has had surgery and radiation treatment and is now on cancer drugs for five years.

"The cancer drugs are good, but they can also give you side effects and so on," said Garvie. "I think any money that can go into research to come up with cures and treatments to help people are really good."

Garvie has been touched by the disease in many other ways. She also lost a brother to cancer last year, her mother has leukemia and her father had prostate cancer.

She said many others taking part in Saturday's event were taking part for personal reasons as well.

"I think it is one in eight women end up with breast cancer so it is a really big one," said Garvie.

Jennifer Wright, fundraising coordinator with the Bluewater Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society said the hope is to make the event an annual one. She said she was happy to have three teams at this year's event — Payless Shoes, Sportmakers and the Zonta Club of Owen Sound were entered — and hopes to grow bigger next year. Sportmakers supplied the stationary bikes for the day.

Wright said they decided on the Battle in the Saddle event because it was something different and it is a way to show people how they can reduce the risks of cancer by being healthy.

"We are trying to promote healthy eating and active living," said Wright. "This is a good, healthy event to be doing."

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Battle in the Saddle was one of many events planned for the month to raise awareness and money. On Friday there was a fashion show at the mall with proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society. There are coin boxes at businesses throughout the area where people can make a donation and get a pink ribbon to wear. The Cancer Society was also to hand out information at the Owen Sound Attack game on Sunday.

Wright said about $15,000 was raised last year during the month of October. This year she hopes to raise between $18,000 and $20,000 for the month, a goal she expects to reach.