Options Okanagan, a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center in Kelowna is proud to part of this very important cause.

The cast and stars associated with CBC’s Heartland may be accustomed to riding horses on a TV set, but they will be riding motorbikes across the province to meet a few of their fans.

Graham Wardle, better known on the Television series as Ty Borden, is among the founders of Cruise with a Cause and he is excited to travel and journey around the province meeting fans as well as fundraising for Sophie’s Place.

Wardle, who attended high school in Burnaby, BC, said Cruise with a Cause tries to choose a charity that is actually under-served or needs and requires more attention and awareness. This past year, the cruise raised money, awareness and attention for prostate cancer.

“Our trail boss last year, the guy who led the ride, had a lot of experience raising funds for prostate cancer. My grandfather died of prostate cancer. It’s a good cause and guys don’t like to go to the doctor, so it kind of fit with our thing of going to get tested,” Wardle stated.

Sophie’s Place seemed like the perfect and ideal charity to choose this year because the TV star can relate to and connect with a lot of the kids who are treated and taken care of there.

“Sophie’s Place was interesting because I’m a survivor of abuse,” said Wardle. “Presently there is another rider on this ride that is a survivor of abuse.

“We thought that this is a good cause, it hits close to home and we wanted to sort of talk about it in a positive light. Focusing on a healthy space for kids, being themselves, growing up in a safe space. Sophie’s Place is a great resource for handling children who didn’t have that at some point in their life,” he added.

The actual ride started on the morning of Monday, Aug. 25 from Sophie’s Place, with their very first stop being at Whistler later that day. The following stops where at Kamloops on August 26, Vernon on August 27, Kelowna on August 28, Princeton and Penticton on August 29 prior to rounding of the trip in Chilliwack and back in Surrey on Saturday, August 30.

Sophie’s Place was started by Sophie Tweed-Simmons, a reality-TV star as well as daughter of KISS bass player Gene Simmons. SOPHIE’S PLACE is named for the centre’s patron Sophie Tweed-Simmons.

It is the only multidisciplinary child-protection center in the area dealing with children and kids who have been sexually, emotionally, psychologically as well as physically abused.

Sophie’s Place allows collaboration between the RCMP, Ministry associated with Child and Family Services, medical as well as trauma screening professionals and experts and volunteer advocates.

“It’s really important that kids can have a place to go where they can be taken seriously, and where they can express what’s happened to them in a safe environment,” says Sophie Tweed-Simmons.

Please contact Sophie’s Place at 604-533-4884 or judy@cdfbc.ca to discuss your charitable giving objectives.