When Vancouver-based financial advisor Robert Kolenc recently found out that a good friend had cancer, he considered it the last straw. Having witnessed many friends and family members battle the deadly disease, the Raymond James advisor has decided to take action with a mission to raise money for cancer research while doing something he loves: riding his motorcycle.

In late March, Kolenc is embarking on a three-week motorcycle trip to the Arctic Ocean. On his 2007 Ural Gear Up motorcycle, which is uniquely capable of riding in severe winter conditions, Kolenc will ride from Whitehorse, Yukon Territories to his final destination of Tuktoyaktuk — an Inuvialuit hamlet located on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. Kolenc will then ride back down to Whitehorse.

Aside from being the adventure of a lifetime, the purpose of the trip is to raise money for cancer research. Kolenc’s goal is to raise $10,000 for Motorcycle Ride for Dad — a national charity dedicated to fighting prostate cancer through research, education and awareness.

Kolenc’s inspiration for the fundraiser came last summer, when he learned that a colleague and friend was diagnosed with cancer.

“It was really difficult, obviously for him, but for all of us,” he said. “That’s sort of the last straw on a long list of people that are in my life that have been struggling with cancer.”

Kolenc hopes more research on the disease will help scientists learn how to more effectively fight it. “It’s just a disease that strikes me as particularly unfair, and that we need to get a lot better at learning how to kill,” he said.

Kolenc got into motorcycle-riding as a hobby about eight years ago. He has been riding in the Arctic twice before.

“It’s just spectacular,” he said. “That’s some of the prettiest scenery I’ve seen anywhere in the world.”

Separating this trip from the previous ones is the time of year: Kolenc has never been riding up north during the winter. Riding on icy roads and through potentially extreme conditions involves unique challenges, so Kolenc has spent recent months gathering the necessary equipment and learning how to ride in the winter. Safety is one of his top priorities.

“We want to have fun, but safety is right up there at the top,” he said. Two friends will be accompanying Kolenc on the trip in a support vehicle.

So far, Kolenc is slightly more than half way towards his fundraising goal. He has received financial support from a number of corporate sponsors, including Raymond James, Dynamic Funds and Mackenzie Investments.

As a token of appreciation to his sponsors, he will be filming much of his experience in the north and will distribute DVD videos of the trip to anyone who donates at least $50.

IE