Registration Opens for 2026 Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer in Strathmore
Registration has officially kicked off for the 2026 Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer, Alberta's largest cancer fundraising event. The two-day cycling tour will be held in Strathmore on July 18 and 19, 2026, marking the 17th iteration of this significant provincial initiative.
Event Details and Community Impact
The 2026 event will feature three different cycling distances to accommodate participants of varying abilities:
- 60-kilometer route
- 100-kilometer route
- 180-kilometer route
Organizers anticipate more than 2,000 entrants, including approximately 300 cancer patients who will participate alongside supporters, survivors, and community members. The event serves as a powerful call to action across Alberta, bringing together riders from diverse backgrounds united in their commitment to fighting cancer.
Remarkable Fundraising Legacy
Since its inception in Calgary, the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer has raised more than $111 million for cancer care across Alberta. The fundraiser recorded over $9 million in donations during its most recent iteration, demonstrating the ongoing commitment of Albertans to supporting cancer research, treatment, and patient care.
Krystal Clements, Director of Events and Community at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, emphasized the event's significance: "When you hear those words, 'you have cancer,' you feel very helpless. This allows people to do something, whether they're cancer patients or family members of cancer patients—it allows them to go out and do something positive."
Personal Stories of Resilience
The registration launch event at the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary featured breast cancer survivor Mary Benning, who has participated in the fundraiser for many years as both a volunteer and rider.
Benning initially joined the event because she enjoyed cycling and saw it as an excellent opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause. However, in 2024, her participation took on profound personal meaning when she received a breast cancer diagnosis.
"When I got the call that it actually was cancer, I was devastated and in disbelief," Benning recalled. "You're just so overwhelmed with questions about what this means and what it's going to look like for you. But I decided I was going to find out how to beat this and do the best I could to move forward."
After undergoing treatment for a year until June 2025, Benning resumed training and participated in the event just one month later. "It felt like an important thing to be able to get back on my bike again and ride with my team and raise money for a cause that I knew so personally now," she explained.
Building Community Through Shared Experience
Benning highlighted the strong sense of community that has developed around the event over the years. "All the riders are so incredibly supportive of each other along the way," she said. "So even though it's a long distance, everybody's riding together, encouraging each other with 'Good job!' and 'Get up the hill,' high-fiving each other throughout the journey."
The registration launch event featured three spin machines at the cancer centre, where volunteers pedaled in shifts to symbolize the upcoming event and encourage early registration. This visual demonstration served as a powerful reminder of the physical and emotional journey that participants undertake in support of cancer care.
The Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer represents more than just a cycling event—it's a province-wide movement that transforms individual efforts into collective impact, supporting 16 cancer care facilities across Alberta while creating meaningful connections among participants who share a common purpose.
