‘Courageous’ fundraiser inspires Tour de Rock rider

By Lookout on Oct 04, 2021 with Comments 0

Fiona Treen shaves the locks of Cpl Michael Smith, Tour de Rock rider, just after having her own hair clipped as a fundraiser for Cops for Cancer.

Peter Mallett
Staff Writer
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The daughter of a military member raised over $4,000 for this year’s Tour de Rock cycling fundraiser, shedding her locks to get the job done.

Fiona Treen, 11, shaved off her long brown hair Sept. 15 at the Military Police detention barracks to support local Tour de Rock rider Cpl Michael Smith.

Cpl Smith of the Military Police Unit embarked on this year’s cycling tour of Vancouver Island to benefit pediatric cancer with other military members and first responders.

Fiona, daughter of Cdr Colleen O’Brien, wanted to shave her head ever since meeting another girl who had shaved her head for charity two years ago. Due to COVID, she had to wait until this year for the opportunity. Cdr O’Brien, whose husband is a police officer, suggested she support Cpl Smith and the Tour de Rock campaign. The O’Brien-Treen family connected with Cpl Smith and the rest is ‘hairstory.’

“My husband bought her some new hats to keep her warm and she wore a Tour de Rock t-shirt to school the next day to explain her new look, which was very well received,” says Cdr O’Brien.

Fiona’s hair was donated to make wigs for cancer patients. As a show of support Cpl Smith also went under the clippers.

“Fiona is the embodiment of courage and selflessness as shown by her essentially donating her hair to the Tour de Rock,” says Cpl Smith. “Fiona had a smile from ear-to-ear during the head shave and that really struck me when I was on my bike riding on the tour.”

This was his third consecutive Tour de Rock ride. The Tour de Rock began in 1998 and sees first responders and military members traverse Vancouver Island on their bicycles.

On Sept. 22 and 23, he covered two legs of the tour between Campbell River, Courtney, and Comox. He and the other riders stopped at the CFB Esquimalt fire hall on Friday morning as part of the last leg of their journey.

His fundraising campaign is still ongoing: https://support.cancer.ca/site/TR/Cops%20for%20Cancer/?px=12979055&pg=personal&fr_id=27810