On Wednesday morning, Sept. 21, 34 riders on the Cops for Cancer team began a nine-day, 800-kilometre journey through the Fraser Valley in 91原创, where students at the 91原创 Fine Arts School cheered them on their way.

Among the well-wishers waving and smiling as the cyclists pedalled into the school gymnasium were Murrayville resident Alisha Openshaw and her twin three-year-old sons, Bennett and Weston, who were recently diagnosed with an identical type of leukemia.

With older brother Jackson, the pair handed out beads for the riders to add to their wristbands.

鈥淚ts great to see many people out and supporting and bringing awareness to childhood cancer,鈥� Alisha told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 great. I work as a paramedic and there鈥檚 a lot of paramedics riding also,鈥� she noted.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: 91原创 twin brothers, 3, battle cancer

Weston was diagnosed in April, and four months later, tests confirmed his brother Bennett had the exact same type of cancer.

In an online update, Alisha reported Bennett has just completed his first round of treatment and is in remission, and while Weston is responding 鈥渞eally well鈥� to his treatments, he is still in the high-risk category because he had more cancer cells in his spinal fluid than his brother did at diagnosis.

鈥淲e鈥檙e fairly new, still, into this journey,鈥� Alisha commented.

鈥淲e鈥檙e still learning about all the foundations and all the organizations that get together and support childhood cancer.鈥�

It is the 25th year for the , sponsored by Applewood Auto Group, which will wrap up in Surrey on Thursday, Sept. 29.

It is one of several rides that bring together law enforcement and emergency services personnel to raise money for childhood cancer research and a national support system for families affected by childhood cancer. This year鈥檚 Valley fundraising goal is $300,000, with just over $275,000 raised as of Wednesday.

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Cops for Cancer started in 1997 when Edmonton Staff Sergeant Gary Goulet convinced his fellow officers to shave their heads in support of a five-year-old boy who was being ridiculed at school for being bald due to chemotherapy.

It has become the largest national charitable funder of childhood cancer research, with an .

Approximately, and 110 die from the disease.

More pictures from day 1 of the Cops for Cancer Ride can be viewed on the .