When the sea of blue jerseyed cyclists depart from the Canada Olympic Park on Aug. 12, they'll not only be pedalling to raise funds to conquer cancer, they'll be lifting spirits, sharing stories and, in some cases, working out frustrations and finding closure for traumatic chapters in their lives.

The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer is a battlecry to topple the disease that is the leading cause of death in Canada and it's a very personal journey for its volunteers and participants.

"Everyone has their story," says Eric Diggins, 55, a 17-year Cochrane resident who is participating with a team of about 20 riders for the seventh time.

"Everyone is touched, everyone on the team; and most people in the ride. When you're riding for over 100 km in a day and making pit stops along the way you talk to a lot of people. You see people wearing pictures on their back of those who have lost to the battle. It's a very moving. It really makes you think."

For Diggins, his was the loss of a nephew to conlon cancer at the age of 36. It was originally diagnosed as acute ulcers overseas, but was later to be discovered to be cancer when he returned to Canada. He was diagnosed during Easter 2009, had probably been battling it for a couple of years and lost the battle in May 2010.

"He was my son's Godfather and my son took it pretty hard; he thought he was gold. It was the same year he graduated high school and his graduation was the day of his funeral and he didn't know which way to turn."

Not long afterwards, Diggins learned of a group of co-workers who participated in the ride as the "Recycled Renegades" and after doing a little research decided to join them for the 2011 ride. He has completed every ride since and likely will for the forseeable future. By the time this ride is completed he will have raised about $40,000 in total.

A friend of Diggins was diagnosed with diagnosed with cancer on Christmas Eve about four or five years ago and he joined the ride while still receiving treatment.

"I rode with him and it was a slow go. He was on chemo pills and he made the whole 220 km. It was emotional when we crossed the finish line together."

"He's a survivor and he has been in the ride every year since. Due to a work commitment he can't ride this year so his son is taking in his place."

The camaraderie is high during the event, especially at camp pitched for the riders at the Foothills Composite in Okotoks on Saturday night.

"The highlight is definitely the evening. Camaraderie, chatting around tents, it's really cool."

They've ridden through some wet and windy weather over the years, but Diggins says in the big picture that isn't important.

"It was horrendous and we all joked and said if it wasn't a cause like this we wouldn't be doing it. But when you put it in perspective, we have two days of it and then we get to crawl in our warm beds and we're all fine. We're doing this for people who can't do this. Their battle is a whole lot longer than two days of heading into wind and rain."

This is the ninth year the two-day cycling journey has been held in Alberta through the foothills that starts and ends in Calgary. To date it has raised $60 million, an average of about $7.5 million each ride, and those funds enable the Alberta Cancer Foundation to support breakthrough cancer research, clinical trials, enhanced care and the discovery of new cancer therapies at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Cross Cancer Institute and 15 other centres across Alberta. 

Diggins says the size of the donation doesn't matter.

"No amount is too little. I had a couple of younger people who couldn't afford much donate $5 and that's awesome. They contributed what they could. It gives you a good feeling to support something good and this is definitely something good."

He also encourages people to consider participating in the future. There's no skill level requirement, lots of support along the route and all you need is a bike.

"I highly recommend it; it's a great weekend. There are just so many good things you get out of it; fundraising, talking to others, and a chance to do something in memory of the loved ones you've lost."

To donate to this year's ride or register for the 10th anniversary event in 2018, visit here.