November 1, 2005 – Vancouver’s cycling community lined up for autographs and a chance to meet legendary cyclist Eddy Merckx at the Wedgewood Cycling Club’s first annual Evening of Champions banquet last Friday, a five-star cancer fundraiser that raised $100,000 for the BC Cancer Foundation.

Eddy Merckx is acknowledged to be the greatest racing cyclist of the 20th century, as the five-time winner of both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. During his career, the Belgian superstar won more than 500 races, more than his American friend and fellow cycling celebrity Lance Armstrong.

TeamWedgewood is sponsored by the Wedgewood Hotel and was founded by the hotel’s general manager Phillip Meyer, a cancer survivor and huge Eddy Merckx fan. As a result, the team has designated the BC Cancer Foundation as the beneficiary of all its fundraising events.

The idea behind An Evening of Champions began with another cancer survivor – Colleen Cross of Kelowna. Cross happens to be the mother-in-law of Eddy Merckx’ son Axel Merckx, who is an Olympic cycling medalist and Tour de France competitor.

When Cross began to organize cancer fundraising events in Kelowna, and raffling off some of her son-in-law’s cycling gear, Meyer got in touch and they put their heads together. Soon after, over apple pie, Cross asked the younger Merckx if he and his famous father would headline a cancer fundraiser in Vancouver.

“I just thought, why not, I’ll ask Axel if he and his father would come to a banquet put on by the Wedgewood Cycling Club, because the proceeds are being donated to the BC Cancer Foundation,” she explained. “After all, he’s married to my daughter, how could he refuse his mother-in-law?”

He didn’t. Neither did Eddy Merckx, who told reporters Friday that his reasons for coming were personal. “Cancer has affected my son’s mother-in-law, my friends and my fellow riders in the cycling community. I am happy that my first visit to Vancouver is to support cancer research through the BC Cancer Foundation. I hope it can make a difference,” he said.

The $100,000 raised for the BC Cancer Foundation will go to breast cancer programs at the BC Cancer Agency’s Centre for the Southern Interior in Kelowna and will also fund the Agency’s research into testicular cancer province-wide.

Friday night’s audience got the BC Cancer Foundation message; at the end of the evening most of the guests were wearing the Foundation’s trademark-purple wristbands, which are available for $5 through the Foundation.

Team Wedgewood plans to hold an Evening of Champions for the BC Cancer Foundation annually. For more information about this year’s event or plans for next year’s fundraiser, contact the BC Cancer Foundation at 604-707-5904 or visit: www.teamwedgewood.com.
The BC Cancer Foundation is a charitable organization that raises funds to support research and care at the BC Cancer Agency, throughout the province.