Steve Campbell, who is hoping to complete the Ride to Conquer Cancer this year, poses with his bike at his Oakville home, June 9, 2011. Campbell had to cut last year's ride short to be at his wife's bedside when she died last year.J.P. Moczulski for The Globe and Mail
One year after losing his wife, Linda Campbell, to cancer, Toronto police officer Steve Campbell breezed past the finish line of the 200 kilometre Ride to Conquer Cancer cycling race Sunday afternoon.
The race, which organizers said attracted 4,610 participants, started in Toronto on Saturday morning and finished in Niagara Falls on Sunday.
Ms. Campbell had battled breast and lung cancer for 15 years, and was admitted to the hospital days before last year's race with heart trouble. Despite her declining health, she insisted her husband go ahead with his plan to participate in the race. But when Constable Campbell learned, partway through the first day, that her condition had worsened, he left the race early to be by her side. She died several hours after he got there.
Constable Campbell said he finished this year's race in his wife's memory.
"I know wherever she was she was, she was saying 'good job,'" he said after the race.
His daughters were cheering for him from the stands as he finished.
"It's the anniversary [of her death] so it was a hard day for all of us," daughter Kim Campbell said. "But seeing him come in with a big smile was just so great. We're really proud of him."
The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting the Princess Margaret raised $17.5-million this year for cancer research, beating last year's record of $16.1-million.