For over a decade, RBC has been a committed Northern Lights Sponsor of the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer. Through their long-standing partnership, Team RBC has raised more than $1.4M to advance cancer research and care in Alberta. This legacy is made possible by the dedication of riders — both employees and retirees — who return year after year to pedal for more hope.
One of those riders is Mark Farris, a retired employee who has been part of the Tour for over 12 years. Even after retirement, Mark continues to ride with Team RBC, inspired by his own family’s cancer journey and the stories of others he meets through the Tour.
This year, Mark earned special recognition as a Tire Track qualifier — one of the first 15 riders to surpass $15,000 in fundraising for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. His early start and personal dedication carried him past that milestone, with his sights set even higher. “My goal was to raise $20,000. It’s not hard. It just takes preparation.”
“Both my mother and my father were diagnosed with cancer in their late 50s, and both survived their cancer. And then when my son was born, my grandfather, who I was very close to, developed pancreatic cancer and passed away in three weeks. Cancer is there in our family. This event, it means something to me and my family.”
Mark also chose to dedicate his 2024 ride to Cameron Hansen, the grandson of close friends, who was diagnosed with leukemia. Today, Cameron is in remission — a reminder of the hope that drives every rider forward. “Funds raised from this event… it gives you hope. I look at Cameron, he’s in remission right now. Thirty years ago, that might not have happened. And so, I’m grateful for that. That’s what it’s all about.”
Over more than a decade of fundraising, Mark has refined his approach. His advice for riders is simple but powerful:
- Dedicate your ride to someone — it makes the cause deeply personal.
- Start fundraising early — momentum builds success.
- Find a common connection — because everyone has been touched by cancer.
Beyond fundraising, Mark treasures the community he’s found through the Tour. “These people are all like-minded. Cycling is one connection, but everybody has been touched by cancer. One of the things that stands out for me is a lot of the same people keep coming back.”
For RBC, the Tour is more than an event — it’s an opportunity to empower their people, past and present, to ride for something bigger. As Mark says: “The partnership with RBC and the Tour Alberta for Cancer shows what a wonderful corporate citizen RBC is… it’s by sponsoring these events that people like me can get engaged and participate.”
With riders like Mark and the enduring support of RBC, the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer continues to build hope for families across our province — one pedal stroke, and one milestone, at a time.
Join the community. Pedal for More Hope.
Check out Team RBC’s fundraising page for Alberta Cancer Foundation to join the team or make a donation.