Motorcycle riders say goodbye in Nanaimo to fellow rider in emotional sendoff

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WATCH: Motorcycle riders frequently take part in memorial rides but this time they were able to say goodbye to a friend while she could still take part.

It’s with a positive attitude and grace that Corinna Pitney is facing her final days.

She is 50 years old and has terminal cancer, but the sunshine and approaching rumble in the distance had her smiling Sunday afternoon as she sat in her wheelchair outside the Palliative Care wing at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

Something she said on a whim to a friend just days ago was now happening right in front of her.

“The other day I came to have a visit and she said “you know it would be so cool if a whole bunch of bikes could come rolling through the parking lot”. I was like, OK we can make this happen,” said her friend Tami Jones.

“This is all she wanted, to see some leather, chrome and hear some bikes,” added another friend Diane Ward. “So although we’re at palliative care and we need to keep it down I think we did pretty good today to do this.”

And they kept coming come one after the other, dozens of motorcycles. Many of the people were complete strangers.

“I’m overwhelmed with the support that I see from Vancouver Island,” said Pitney’s friend Al Kenesky. “It’s incredible. There are people here from as far away as Campbell River, Victoria, they’ve come from all over the island to give support to one of our fellow sisters.”

“You’re all just beautiful people and I’m glad to have you in my life,” Pitney said to the crowd who had gathered around her.

“Corinna is one of my best friends, I’ve been riding with her a long time,” added Ward. “She’s a great gal, she has a great community of bikers who have come together to try to be a part of this journey for her.”

And as a surprise, her own motorcycle was there too. It had one day of insurance so she could sit on it one last time.

“Just to see everyone one last time is probably the greatest gift anyone can give,” said Kenesky.

After one final look at the chrome and leather she loved so much she said goodbye to a community that means even more.

Pitney is a single mother and her motorcycle will be sold to pay for her final expenses.

Dean StoltzDean Stoltz

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