Covered head-to-toe in mud and sporting a full-faced grin, Greg Van Tighem rolled his way into Jasper Friday evening, two days ahead of schedule. Accompanying him for the last stretch of his ride were Mayor Richard Ireland, Bob Covey and Peter Angebrandt, as well as a parade of emergency services vehicles.
Van Tighem鈥檚 arrival marks the end of the first stage of his 3,000-kilometre fat bike ride to raise money and awareness for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. The journey will take Jasper鈥檚 fire chief the length of Highway 16.
Since he departed from Mile Zero in Masset, B.C. March 5, Van Tighem has battled the elements. Mother Nature didn鈥檛 hold back, throwing snow, ice, rain, fog and frigid temperatures his way.
So, when he arrived in town March 14, he and his bike were a mess of thick mud. But that didn鈥檛 stop the chief from making a beeline for the Jasper Brewing Company, where he rewarded himself with an IPA, or two, and a steak dinner with some of his pals.
Van Tighem will remain in Jasper until the end of the week and will then continue his journey, March 22, pedalling toward Hinton and carrying on to the end of Highway 16: Winnipeg, Man. The layover is to allow Don Smith, Jasper鈥檚 deputy fire chief, a brief reprieve from being on call.
Van Tighem said he鈥檚 getting a bit nervous about the second leg of his journey and the elements he鈥檒l face as he makes his way east.
鈥淭he more I talk to people, the more I worry about the cross winds across the prairies,鈥� he said, joking that he thought the westerly winds would push him all the way to Winnipeg.
This is Van Tighem鈥檚 second long distance ride for MS. Last spring, he rode from Wickenburg, Ariz. to Jasper鈥攖he length of Highway 93鈥攐n a road bike, raising more than $93,000.
He hopes to again raise $93,000 or more with this ride. To sponsor Van Tighem or to follow his journey, visit www.endms93.com. You can also follow along on Facebook by liking his page, 鈥淓ndms93.鈥�
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
