By Andru McCracken

Local Lions Mike Simms and Rhoda Tamboline were pleased to meet a fellow club member as he toured through Valemount last week on his bicycle.

Lorne Pierlot is 70 years old and decided he wanted to do something special this year, so he is cycling to his brother’s house. His brother lives in Saskatchewan. Lorne and his wife live in Blake Point an hour east of Kamloops.

“I still have good health, so why not do something extraordinary in the year of my 70th birthday before time catches up with me,” he said.

He decided that while he did it, he might as well try to raise funds for a good cause, and he decided to help Camp Winfield, a camp in the interior of BC, which provides special opportunities for kids with disabilities.

So Pierlot was passing through Valemount, braving the elements: the scorching sun, rain, traffic and terrain.

All told his journey will be 1400 km, from his home in the Shuswap to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He claims not to be a specialist, a racer or much of a long distance rider.

“He just likes it,” said his wife Pat, who helps by driving the van.

“We’re doing really well,” said Lorne.

He said he planned on 60 km per day, but is doing about 80 km.

So far he said that the rain and spray from the transport trucks has made it challenging.

His wife said that the big hill south of Blue River was pretty tough too. “When he saw there was a passing lane, we thought ‘uh oh.’” said Pat.

On his bike sits a stuffed lion called Melvin, who he’s named after Melvin Jones the founder of the Lions Club. The lion is clutching a club, which Lorne said symbolizes Camp Winfield.

“We’ve gone 430 km out of 1400,” he said. “We allowed 28 days for the trip, but so far we’re about two days ahead.”

The Valemount Lions Club were delighted to meet Lorne in the grocery store on Wednesday and donated $50 towards the cause.

If you’d like to pledge, call Lorne at (250) 955-0420. Cheques can be made out to the BC Lions Society, or call 1-800-818-4483 to donate by credit card and mention Lorne.

And if you are headed east on Highway 16 in the next few days, keep an eye out for the grey haired gentleman with the lion on his handlebars.