They ride for the kids who have passed away.

They ride for the families who have to go on without little ones in their lives.

And they ride, some years under a searing sun, others in a shower of raindrops, for which, when it first opened its doors in November 1995, became North America鈥檚 first free-standing children鈥檚 hospice.

鈥� a fully escorted 165 km bicycle trek from 91原创 to Sardis and back 鈥� will take place Wednesday July 12, and each year raises funds and awareness for the in support of Canuck Place Children鈥檚 Hospice.

Thanks to its supporters and sponsors, led by Bayview Towing and C&D Logistics, the rides have raised $674,000 to date.

This year鈥檚 11th annual ride begins and ends at 91原创 Twin Rinks, with a stop midway for lunch to support ride sponsors, Save-On Foods and Tim Hortons in Sardis.

On their way back, the cyclists will also make a brief, 20-minute visit at the Dave Lede 鈥� Abbotsford house, which is Canuck Place鈥檚 second provincial facility.

When they arrive back at Twin Rinks at roughly 5 p.m., the group and their entourage will be greeted with a barbecue, festivities, and Vancouver Canucks mascot, Fin, as an additional fundraiser for Canuck Place. All are invited to attend the event which includes food and drink specials.

The goal this year is to come close to or exceed 2016鈥檚 fundraising total of $16,188 in support of the original Canuck Place hospice in Vancouver, as well as the Abbotsford hospice.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not about what you鈥檝e got but what you can give,鈥� said Team Bayview Towing director Jeff Bandura, one of the ride organizers.

Bandura admits there are stressful moments leading up to ride day, due to all of the planning involved.

鈥淥nce we leave here and as soon as we get on the (91原创) Bypass, life is good,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about the kids.鈥�

Donations are encouraged for the ride. Donate online at .

In loving memory

Rob Neufeld and Monty Armstrong know full well how much Canuck Place supports grieving families.

Neufeld鈥檚 grandson Noah was born with a heart condition and passed away when at 28 days old.

While he has been involved with the ride since its inception, Neufeld actually rode for the first time in 2009.

鈥淣othing can really prepare you for Canuck Place, or the death of a child,鈥� said Neufeld, as he reflected on his first experience taking part in the ride. 鈥淪o when you take on this big bike ride that you haven鈥檛 done before, it鈥檚 all fresh, it鈥檚 all new.鈥�

Neufeld said 鈥測ou can鈥檛 really put into words,鈥� the amount of support the family 鈥� including his son Jonathan and daughter-in-law Melissa 鈥� received after Noah鈥檚 passing.

鈥淵ou know you are not alone, I think is the best way to put it,鈥� Neufeld said. 鈥淵ou are not doing this journey by yourself and that鈥檚 kind of the same with the Ride for the Kids. It鈥檚 not like your going for a bike ride with a friend. You feel supported.鈥�

This will be the first year that Armstrong is participating in the ride, and it means the world to him. His twins were born premature in 1996, and one of his sons, Casey, passed away suddenly due to medical reasons, just after his 10th birthday in 2006.

The family moved to the Lower Mainland from Courtenay and once here, connected with Canuck Place and took part in the hospice鈥檚 parent and sibling bereavement program for 18 months.

鈥淭his helped me and his (Casey鈥檚) brother (Brent) through that (time),鈥� Armstrong said. 鈥淭he twins, they were very close. When half of you is not there anymore, and trying to have a 10-year-old put that into perspective, is very difficult.鈥�

After going through the program, Armstrong stayed on with Canuck Place鈥檚 family advisory council for six years.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unbelievable to see what it鈥檚 like in the hospice, for what they have to do for infection control and medicines and all the information they go through with medicines to bring people in for respite, and also ones that show up immediately, that they鈥檝e got a short time be there,鈥� Armstrong said. 鈥淭he support that comes afterwards and the administrative functions to make the place run day to day is a huge undertaking. You never see it, but it鈥檚 pretty big.鈥�