Ponoka resident Richard Bone certainly doesn't let much in life slow him down - including an ongoing battle with cancer.
For the past dozen years, he has been fighting cancer on several fronts. He was told in 2013 he had a five percent chance of living one more year.
Yet Bone focuses on the future, building up a positive attitude that is nothing short of inspiring for those who cross his path.
And he wants to help others. This past August, he took part in the Great Cycle Challenge Canada - riding to help fight kids' cancer.
Since he started with the initiative a few years back, he's raised just over $10,000 for the cause, having ridden 1,518 km.
"It's always rewarding - that feeling of doing the right thing, and doing a good thing. And I was getting exercise at the same time, so even better," he said with a chuckle.
"This year, I just rode more locally. The longest (stretch) was an 80km ride in one day from here to Lacombe, and around the area, and then back," he explained.
"Between weather, energy levels, still being in treatment, and some family obligations, I wasn't able to meet my goals. But I was able to give it a try," he said, adding he was also able to take his family for a 25 km biking trek through Myra Canyon outside of Kelowna, which proved a fabulous experience.
"It was a beautiful day - it was perfect," he said.
"We also went over to the Island on that trip, and I rode with another charity around Victoria for the morning. And then I was out on my own riding for the afternoon. So that was another good day!
"So being able to take my wife, daughter, and granddaughter around Myra Canyon was indeed a highlight. The personal biking tour around Victoria was another highlight, especially paying a visit to a personal hero of so many Canadians, and cancer warriors around the world, Terry Fox - at the place his run started his Marathon of Hope."
Of course, chatting with folks he meets along the way is always a big plus.
"It's always kind of ego-boosting and regenerating to hear people say, wow - you've been through all of that and you are still doing this ride? I'm 54 now, I've been through 12 years of all this medical stuff, and I'm able to get off the couch and go out and ride my bike for a day. When you step outside and look back in, you get that feeling of 'wow'!
Looking back, Bone's initial diagnosis came about after he started having pain under his ribs on the right side.
That was in December of 2012. On Dec. 22, he received the official diagnosis after all kinds of tests, ultrasounds, and emergency CT scans. It was stage four colon cancer.
Doctors later found the cancer had spread to his liver and some lymph nodes, so they listed him as terminal in June of 2013.
Over the years, Bone has, as mentioned, battled various and sometimes repeating forms of cancer, including bouts with bladder cancer in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2022. It was in 2022 that he had a kidney removed as well.
Also, in 2017, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the throat, mouth, and tongue which required a 19.5 hour surgery to remove his left and right tonsils, part of his tongue, the left side of his throat, his soft pallet, and 348 lymph nodes from his neck.
But through it all, he has chosen to try and stay as positive as best he can. And that's part of the reason he's taken part in the annual challenge.
In 2023, he rode from Canmore to Vancouver, raising about $6,000.
Meanwhile, he said being able to do the challenge brings an even more positive feeling than actually doing it.
"I'm not supposed to be here, yet here I am, able to do these things."
And ultimately, it's about giving back, he said.
"I have received so much support over the years, so it's what I can do to give back to the community - the whole 'pay it forward' type of thing," he said.
Donations are still being accepted at greatcyclechallenge.ca/riders/richardbone. To learn more about Bone, find him on Facebook at 'Richard Bone - Photographer/Cancer Warrior/Survivor '.
