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On October 3, 2025, GNS was honoured by a visit from the Tour de Rock riders. The Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock is an annual event where police agencies and emergency service personnel cycle for 14 days on Vancouver Island, BC, raising money for childhood cancer research and support services at the Canadian Cancer Society.
This initiative has very close ties to our community.
Almost two years ago, one of our Grade 6 students, Alexander Mills, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Alexander subsequently spent considerable time at the BC Children’s Hospital, missing over half of his Grade 4 year. Fortunately, he is now doing well and is back at school and able to continue treatment closer to home here in Victoria.
In 2024 and 2025, Alexander took part in the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock as an honorary rider. Both years, he was paired with a rider who cycled over 1200km—the length and width of Vancouver Island—on his behalf. “You feel that people really care for you because they’re riding from the top of the Island all the way down for you,” shares Alexander.
Alexander’s mum, Caroline Mills ’00, shares that “Hayden, Alexander’s first rider, would come and sit with him when he was having chemo last year. It was really sweet because he would tell Alexander, ‘When I’m in the rain with the tough cycling, it’s nothing compared to what you’ve had to go through.’” Alexander has been able to build solid relationships with both of his riders. “I went bowling with my new rider and my old rider. I’ve gone on a bike ride with both of them. We’ve got a really strong connection.”
Caroline shares how the Tour de Rock is especially meaningful as it started on the Island. “The money is raised specifically for pediatric cancer research and for Camp Goodtimes for future families. It’s giving other families, future cancer patients, the opportunity to do what we’ve done.”
Alexander attended Camp Goodtimes, along with his family, this past summer. “It was perfect because he could go to camp and have the full camp experience,” his mum shares. Alexander was excited for the experience as “You’re also with kids that understand what it feels like to have gone through something like this.”
Prior to the Tour de Rock visit, Alexander gave an incredibly moving presentation at both a Middle and Senior School assembly. As one of the youngest students on campus, he bravely described his journey to the students, detailing his challenges and his experience as an honorary rider. “People can really understand how sick I was, because of the presentation, because of me being a part of the Tour de Rock.”
In the assemblies, Alexander also explained his beads of courage. Every treatment, needle poke and medical milestone is represented by a colourful bead, symbolizing his courage throughout his journey. The beads serve as a tangible record of a patient’s fight, each one a way of saying, “I did it!”. Alexander brought his beads to both assemblies and he and Mr. Marston held opposite ends, stretching the remarkable strand of beads across the width of the Denford Hall stage.
Students and staff were incredibly moved by his story, and he even received a standing ovation from the Senior School. Alexander shared that he has felt so much warmth and understanding from the GNS community after sharing his story. “When I was coming back from the end of Tour de Rock (at the BC Legislature), one of the prefects (Nathan Holtum) was driving past with his buddies in the car, and he opened the window and said, ‘Hey Alexander how are you doing?’ and it just made me feel so warm inside. He took the initiative to actually say hi to me, and it made me feel really good.”
“One of the things that I think is really incredible about Alexander and his story is how well he embodies the GNS Core Values,” shares Middle School Principal Mr. Russ Marston. “Courage is an obvious one, but I think that truth is equally important, as he’s incredibly open and transparent and willing to talk about his experience. He wants to share and wants people to understand, which is a very mature approach.”
Mr. Marston also believes that Alexander embodies the IB Learner Profile attribute of Risk-Taker, “especially standing up in front of the Senior School and not flinching. He told a very tough and personal story, which is incredibly vulnerable. I think we’re really lucky that he’s willing to do that. It adds a richness to the GNS story.”
As Alexander continues his return to school and to regular activities, he is very grateful for how seamless his GNS experience has been. “It meant a lot to get back to school and make relationships. I’m not back to my old self, but I’m getting there.”
Last year, certain activities were harder to participate in than others. “In PE, Mr. Brooks adjusted the wide games so I would be able to participate,” says Alexander. “This year, I told Ms. Kaljuvee about some of the adjustments, like being able to use a pool noodle to tag, and she’s been doing that too.”
Alexander concludes, “I feel like if I had different teachers, friends or family, it would be a very different experience.”
