Nearly 2000 cyclists of all levels are about to embark on a gruelling 200 kilometre ride for a good cause, as the seventh annual Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer makes its way through the Foothills this weekend.

Once again, the route goes through the heart of the Foothills, starting at Canada Olympic Park, and taking riders past Priddis, Millarville, Turner Valley, and Black Diamond, before an overnight stop in Okotoks Saturday night.

CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation Myka Osinchuk says the communities in the Foothills have been nothing but gracious to the ride year after year.

"What we've found is that all of these communities along the route for our ride have been extraordinarily supportive over the last seven years, and have allowed us to raise over $42 million," she says.

Osinchuk says all the money raised from the ride goes right back to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, and is spread out to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, and 15 other cancer centres throughout the province.

She says one specific program the funds go towards is clinic trials, which gives patients access to new treatments years before they would be available to the general public.

Cyclists from across the province will ride through the Foothills these weekend as part of the Ride to Conquer Cancer, which is now in its seventh year. (Photo courtesy of the Ride to Conquer Cancer.)

"The ride, in the last five years, has helped give 6000 people with cancer in Alberta access to the newest treatments through the clinical trials that we're able to support, and that's really tremendous," Osinchuk says.

Osinchuk, who's participating in the ride herself for the fourth straight year, says the ride is never an easy journey, but it pales in comparison to the battle cancer patients have to go through.

"It's a hard two days, it's a challenge," she says. "But, most of the people I talk to will say 'this challenge is nothing compared to what people going through cancer face, I'm happy to do this.'"

Osinchuk says she encourages everyone to come out and cheer on the riders at specific cheering locations in Bragg Creek, Millarville and Turner Valley.

The ride kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday at C.O.P., with riders finishing the day at Pason Centennial Arena in Okotoks before riding back to C.O.P. on Sunday.

Motorists are reminded to keep an eye out for cyclists, and to check the route (which can be found below) to plan ahead.

To donate to the Ride To Conquer Cancer, click here.

Courtesy of the Ride to Conquer Cancer.