The first thing to catch the attention of the Cops for Cancer Tour de Valley riders as they rolled into Langley Friday were the treats set out for them.

The first Langley stop of the nine-day tour was at the Cedarbrook Deli & Bakery, where owner Mark Peterse had laid out his signature bacon-maple doughnuts, with real bacon.

"It's really good," said Scott Nickel, one of this year's returning riders and an RCMP officer.

The riders, after 93 kilometres in the saddle that day, were pleased to scarf down some extra calories.

Then it was time for Peterse, an auxiliary Langley RCMP constable, to get his head shaved by wife Lisa to raise funds for the ride.

"It's. short," he said after running his hand across his newly bare scalp.

Peterse plans to ride with the tour himself next year, and his head shave resulted in another jug full of cash being handed over to the Canadian Cancer Society.

The annual ride by law enforcement personnel raises cash specifically for research into childhood cancer, and support for kids going through treatment.

Almost all of the more than 20 riders have personal reasons for riding, usually having seen cancer in a loved one.

A few have close connections to childhood cancer. Nickel himself is a survivor. Deputy team captain Chris Rosenberger's daughter Sophie - who happily wielded the clippers as he volunteered for a head shave - is also a survivor.

Riders also meet a number of young cancer survivors from around the Lower Mainland, many of whom take a day to follow the team during the nineday event.

The Friday ride was the second day of this year's tour, which will take the team from Tsawwassen to Boston Bar in the Fraser Canyon.

"So far, so good," said team captain Steve Dickinson.

"It looks like we're finishing just in time today," Dickinson said, as the odd drop of rain fell from an overcast sky.

The team has seen far less rain than in the last two years, both of which saw drenchings on the first day. If the forecast holds out, and the riders are lucky, it could be the first Tour de Valley ever to avoid rain altogether, Dickinson said.

While the riding itself - 800 to 900 km over nine days - is a key focus now, the riders have spent the past six months raising money for their cause.

"The team all hit their fundraising marks this year, which is awesome," said Dickinson.

Team members must raise $5,000 to be allowed to ride in the fall.

With donations from other groups, the total raised has already passed $250,000 and will increase over the remaining days of the event.

Rider Eric Mead, returning for his third year, said more and more people see the need every year for pediatric cancer research.

The research into cancer for children benefits adult cancer patients as well, he said.

He's been impressed with the many stops at schools and businesses the team has made this year.

"Amazing support in all the communities we've gone to," said Mead.

Chris Coburn, a morning DJ with Country 107.1 in Abbotsford, is back with the ride this year as the team's "media rider."

An avid cyclist, he said that the ride itself, even the 130 kilometre Hope to Boston Bar leg over the weekend, is not the hard part of the ride.

"It's seeing the kids, and the emotional stuff," Coburn said.

The Tour de Valley will be back in Langley and Aldergrove on Wednesday, then will visit Fort Langley on Thursday.

The ride wraps up on Friday.

For more information, or to donate, visit www.copsforcancerbc.ca.

mclaxton@langleyadvance.com