Photo: Rodney and Daryn Stafford are cycling across Canada to raise awareness for child safety after the abduction and murder of their late daughter and sister Victoria Stafford. - Andrea Nicholl Photo
By Andrea Nicholl
True tragedy and the loss of a special little girl have pushed the Stafford family to peddle forward and push for awareness.
Rodney Stafford and his 12-year-old son Daryn are bicycling across Canada in memory of their beloved daughter and sister and to raise national awareness for child safety.
“(Daryn) and I are both putting our bodies through hell just to get the word out about these people and that our children aren’t safe,” said Rodney, who made the first Kilometres for Kids ride on his own last summer. “Last year my whole goal was to raise awareness that there’s bad people out there and this year our goal is to hit everybody that didn’t hear the story last year or to hit them again. It’s just to raise the awareness.”
The Kilometres for Kids 2: A Sibling Story is in honour of Daryn’s little sister Victoria (Tori) Stafford who was abducted last spring, while walking home from school in Woodstock, Ontario.
The schoolgirl’s disappearance attracted international attention and launched a massive search, until her body was discovered on July 20, 2009.
On Aug. 5, days after his daughter’s funeral service, Rodney left Woodstock on bicycle and headed for Tori’s Mountain, “The Whistlers” in Jasper, where Tori visited in the summer of 2008.
“It was well talked about,” said Rodney. “Victoria had a great trip (to the mountains).”
“We took her up to Jasper, up on the mountain and she was just in awe,” said Tori’s paternal grandmother, Doreen Graichen. “For a little eight-year-old girl she was just happy, her eyes were huge just trying to take it all in.
“Being on the mountain and being able to touch snow in July wearing a little sun dress, she just couldn’t figure out, it was unbelievable.”
“That’s where I ended last year with the release of one purple balloon and this year we started out there for Father’s Day,” said Rodney. “When you’re up on top of the mountain you just seem that much closer to Tori.”
Rodney and Daryn began their 55-day journey on June 22, and if all goes according to plan, will arrive home in Woodstock on August 9.
Twelve-year-old Daryn says the 4,100 kilometre trek has been good so far and while there’s been some fatigue, the cause and commuters have kept him motivated.
“I just want people to realize that bad things do happen,” he said while resting at a hotel on Thursday evening. “It’s nice to hear all the people honking and seeing them wave- rooting us on.”
“I did the ride last year, so I know what to expect and I just keep telling him there’s going to be some rough roads ahead- just do a little bit at a time and we’ll get through each day,” said Rodney, admitting the journey both physically and emotionally exhausting. “It’s rough. There was a little stretch where Daryn sat in the car for a bit and while he was sitting in the car I was getting all teary-eyed.”
“Never in a million years did we ever think that this would happen to us,” said Graichen.
“Nobody does,” said Rodney. “Nobody expects it to happen, but it does.”
Those who wish to support Rodney and Daryn are encouraged to donate to their provincial Child Find organization.
Rodney’s solo ride raised $60,000 last year for the provincial Child Find organizations.
For more information visit www.childfind.ca.