m j t hgtawy r 5v r a v cv1 2 its3w3hsi v j eeqnoffis8fsun stouffvilletribune asasaabissa fv- i cancer survivor helps others keep fighting t but he hasnt forgotten the struggle he hadtctgo through to get there t a lot of people struggle both emotionally and financially coates explained i was liicky enougknot to have the financial struggle but i wanted to dosome- mvwpct thing to help others who might not be as fortunate b kvj v y since horses were his passion coates decided to 4j e- nter j use his equine knowledge to start a fundraising event ijiphhrougk nine months of dauychemotherapy and so in september 1994 inine riders from the 1 1 another monthof radiationban coates lay ufa whitchurch pony club gathered at als tack shop in bed and thought about joey stouffville for the first great canadian ride for cancer j the desire to see joey and spend time with him gave the event is a 25kilometre rideathori in the york coates something to hold on to after being diagnosed regional forest near stoufville riders collect pledges with honhodgkinslymphpma in august 1992 and spend the day on the trails morning snacks lunch joey couldnt visit coates in the hospital nor could and treats for the horses are all provided l he pick up the phone and call lj i the canadian cancer society ajoeyisahorse 14- l aboutdoinglheeventsaidcoatestheycameoutto j when i got out of the hospital and was able to visit the house for a meeting with me and gave me the ok jpeyjritwas like heundefstoqd that something was to go ahead with it wrongsaid coates he wav so gentle and careful i got my family and friends to help out with flyers with me l and lunch and we raised 900 in pledges coates credits his 12yearold appendix quarter- the next yearattencoates ce increased tp12 riders horse geldingwith helping him win his fight against the third year wcreally rethought bur strategy the that killed more than 63000 canadians last thats when we wentafter corporate sponsorsstarted i year rc v- ra checkpoints and started advertising in r xracv r mc c i coates was determined not to become a statistic newspapers and on the radio explained laurie smith fxrv photos courtesy of the great canadian ride for cancer t j t ts i xktr dfca i never gave up during treatment and l never secretary and treasurer for the great canadian ride for going to just roll pver and cancer i t smith has been involved with tries ride since its helping along the route- see riding page 17 2is visit ozr showroom r r an t vitcu e s refinished beyond 158 main street 9054749677 6 piece plantation style f bedroom suite queen bed mens ladies dresser and night tables