A convoy of cyclists, escorted by police cruisers, rolled through Peachland, Summerland, Penticton and Oliver Friday -- for the first day of this year’s Cops For Kids Ride.

Over the next nine days, they’ll be making their way through the Kootenays and Rockies before reaching the finish line back in Kelowna, on Sept. 14.

Money raised will support families whose children are facing serious health challenges, and is kept within the Interior.

While in Peachland, Liz Vanterve, who’s participating for her seventh year, got to meet two of the families who benefit from the ride.

“We get to meet our little ambassadors,” she said. “Such hard lives, even little kids. We met one baby who’s survived brain surgery for cancer; another little boy who had a heart transplant. That was really amazing to

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