Bio for Bill Demiris

Click Here for Bill's Secure Donation Page to the Canadian Cancer Society!

Third Time at Ironman Canada!

Name:  Bill Demiris 

Occupation:  Police Constable, City Of Vancouver

What convinced you to join the Cops For Cancer Ironman Team?

A few years ago (1997) I shaved my head during a "Crop A Cop" event.  My dad was fighting cancer at the time so it was quite personal for me.  It certainly raised my awareness about this disease.  Sadly, less than a year later on June 17th, 1998 my dad lost his fight with cancer.

I was vacationing with my family in Penticton during IMC 2002 and remember seeing the Cops For Cancer team members throughout the day.  I had always wanted to do an Ironman and thought that this would be a great way to do it.  The next year I found out that an Ironcops Team BC was being organized for IMC 2004.  I joined the team and met a lot of great team members from across Canada, and finally completed my fist Ironman. 

What obstacles do you feel you will need to overcome?

The swim.  In fact you could say that I swim like a rock.  Thank God for wetsuits!  I did a fair amount of open water training (thanks to Murray & Karen!) for IMC 2004 which really made the difference.  I actually had a decent (for me) swim at IMC.  I came out of the water quite relaxed and ready for the bike.  But I'm going to have to work hard at it again for 2008.  I also have to work on my running which is what an Ironman really comes down to.  Juggling training with work and family commitments will, as always, be another obstacle for me.

Do you have any specific goals for your Ironman experience?

I'd love to break 13 hours and thought I had a good chance last year until I started the run and then started to cramp up.  Ironman is a very long day and anything can happen.  Just to finish one of the worlds toughest races will be fine with me.

What is your athletic background?

In high school I was involved in track, wrestling, football & soccer.  After high school I played some ice hockey and started entering 5k & 10k fun runs.  Thanks to my brother-in-law Mario (who was also a team member for 2006) I joined a tri club in 1988.  I competed in several sprint and Olympic distance triathlons over the next 3 years.   In one of the triathlons I competed in (Vancouver International Triathlon 1988), I raced against the the guys that were known at that time as "The Big Four" (Dave Scott, Mark Allen, Scott Tinley & Scott Molina) as well as a very young Lance Armstrong.  Okay...so I was a bit further back behind those guys.  I took a break from triathlons (a very long break!) when I got into policing (that nasty shift work!), got married and started a family.  In 2002 I joined my old tri club again and have since completed 3 Half Ironman races, 1 Marathon (3 if you count IMC!) and IMC 2004/2006.

Do you have a personal reason for taking on this challenge, or are you dedicating your efforts to anyone in particular?

Training for an Ironman is an excellent way for me to stay fit (too many donuts and junk food at work!).  If I can train for an Ironman and help raise awareness about cancer at the same time, even better.  I dedicated my first Ironman to my dad, Andre Demiris.  My race number at IMC 2004 was 1312.  My dad's birthday just happens to be January 31st, 1927.....or....1/31/27!  I'm going to dedicate IMC 2008 to all the people I know that are living with cancer and continue to fight this terrible disease.

Do you have anything else to say?

My dad left a huge hole in my family when we lost him.  I'm sure it's the same in every other family that has lost a loved one because of cancer, especially when that loved one is a child. 

Cops For Cancer is an excellent way for the law enforcement community to help raise awareness for this disease that cuts short the lives of so many people. 

It's an honour and a privilege to be a member of the Cops For Cancer Ironcops Team.  To the IMC 2004 and 2006 team...WELL DONE!!  For everyone that's going back in 2008, as well as the new members, train safe and see you all at IMC 2008!