Saskatchewan

Cycling for cancer: Regina principal biking 500 km

Sharlene Holliday says it's a lofty goal — $1,000 and 500 kilometres — but she's cycling for a good cause: cancer awareness.

Holliday's goal is to cycle 500 km in 30 days and to raise $1,000 for cancer research and awareness

Holliday says she'll need to bike at least 150 kilometres this week to meet her goal. (Abby Schneider/CBC)

Sharlene Holliday admits her goal of cycling 500 kilometres in 30 days is a lofty one — but it's for a good cause.

Holliday, the principal at Regina's St. Gregory Elementary School, is participating in the Great Cycling Challenge and is looking to raise awareness and money, $1,000, for cancer initiatives.

"Rain or shine, it doesn't matter," Holliday told CBC Radio's The Morning Edition on Monday. 

"It's just a little bit that we can do for kids that are fighting, around the world, against cancer."

As of Monday, Holliday said she has about 19 days left in the challenge.

She bikes from the east end of the city to the north end, to work and back home, every weekday and at least one day on the weekend. She estimates she'll have to log about 150 kilometres this week to stay on track to hit her goal.

Holliday said she has seen and felt the impact of cancer, as she lost her mother to cancer seven years ago. Her son lost a friend to leukemia 18 years ago. She has also felt the impact it has had on the student body.

Holliday said she rides with another school staffer to work and the two greet students in the morning. She said they've talked with students about the importance of what they're doing and the importance of fitness.

"It's devastating for families, devastating for school communities, so it's the least that I can do," she said of the challenge.

With files from CBC Radio's The Morning Edition