When Samantha (Samm) Domagala first signed up for the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer, she knew she wanted to make a difference. But over the years, the reason she returns to the start line has grown more meaningful with each ride.
Cancer has become part of her story in ways she never expected.
Her dad battled cancer before passing away in 2017. Her best friend’s mom also lost her life to cancer, and over the years, she and her husband Kevin have supported several close friends through their own diagnoses. In 2016, Samm experienced a cervical cancer scare of her own. It was caught early, changing what could have been a very different outcome.
Those experiences have transformed what the Tour means to her.
“Those experiences remind me that cancer affects all of us, whether directly or through someone we love. Riding is my way of honouring those we’ve lost, supporting those still fighting, and helping create more hope for the future.”
This year marks Samm’s fifth Tour. While she stepped away for a year during the pandemic, it wasn’t long before she found herself back at the starting line. Part of that motivation came from her husband Kevin, now riding his sixth Tour, whose enthusiasm for the event is contagious. But it was also the sense of community that kept calling her back.
As a member of Team NOV, Samm has experienced firsthand how the Tour brings colleagues together around a shared purpose. Training rides become opportunities to encourage one another. Fundraising milestones are celebrated together. And when the kilometres get tough, there’s always someone ready with support.
“Team NOV has created a culture where everyone is included, encourages one another, celebrates the wins, and keeps each other going.”
That spirit reflects NOV’s commitment as one of the Tour’s Northern Lights Partners. Their support extends beyond sponsorship, fostering a culture where employees rally around one another while helping fund life-changing cancer research, treatment and care across Alberta.
Outside of the Tour, Samm works as a business coach, a role that has reinforced her belief that meaningful change starts with relationships. Whether she’s encouraging someone to make a donation, register for the Tour or simply learn more about the impact of cancer, she sees every conversation as an opportunity to create more hope.
For anyone considering signing up, Samm wants them to know they don’t need to be an experienced cyclist to make a difference.
“You don’t have to be an elite cyclist to make an impact. Every dollar raised, every kilometre ridden, and every conversation you have helps create hope for someone who needs it.”
When asked to finish the sentence, “I Tour for More…”, her answer came easily: More Tomorrows.
For Samm, more tomorrows mean more birthdays around the table. More family dinners. More celebrations. More ordinary moments that become extraordinary simply because they’re shared with the people you love.
Having experienced the power of early detection herself while mourning a father who didn’t have that same outcome, she understands what the Tour’s message of ‘More Time’ and ‘More Hope’ really means.
Every rider who signs up, every donor who gives and every sponsor who stands behind the Tour helps make those more tomorrows possible for families across Alberta.
Help create more tomorrows by supporting Team NOV as they take on the 2026 Tour.
