Many have experienced it - the heart-stopping realization your child is missing.
Fortunately, for most, a desperate search finds the child playing with neighbourhood friends, or oblivious in the candy aisle of the supermarket, or crying at the lost and found booth of the fair.
Rodney Stafford was not so lucky. His search ended in unimaginable horror when the remains of his eight-year-old daughter, Victoria, were found, over three months after she went missing April 8, 2009.
Stafford said if he had one thing to say to his daughter, it would be, "I miss you, love you, I want you home."
"But I know it's not going to happen," he adds sadly.
Less than a month after burying his daughter, Stafford set off on a bike ride from his home in Woodstock, Ont., to Edmonton, Alta. Calling his journey Kilometers for Kids, Stafford raised just under $70,000 for Child Find Ontario.
Stafford didn't plan to repeat his ride, but this year his 12-year-old son Daryn asked if they could do it together.
And so the father-son team set off on the 3,400 kilometer ride, leaving Edmonton June 22. They rolled into the Battlefords Friday, just after 1 p.m., greeted by claps and shouts of encouragement from people wearing purple ribbons for Victoria, whose favorite colour was purple.
But for Stafford, it was all about his son.
"I'm proud of my little man," he said, adding he hoped it would bring some healing to Daryn.
"I think it's going to end up doing the same thing it did for me last year," said Stafford. "By the time I got through, it gave me the idea that some good can come out of something so tragic, as long as you keep going."
Daryn said he was a little tired and sore from all the peddling, but had no doubts as to whether or not he would make it to Woodstock.
Besides raising money, Daryn has a message to impart.
"I want the kids that go missing and people just to know that there's bad people out there, and they've just got to watch out for it."
Daryn and his father were greeted at King Hill by city councillors Grace Lang and Ray Fox, and many other community members.
Lang said, "We are honoured to welcome you, but we wish there was no reason for you to be here."
Fox presented the two with an eagle feather, which was blessed by elders at the Cadet Hall, where a traditional feast and prayers were held in honour of the Staffords.
Daryn and his father plan to arrive in Woodstock Aug. 8.
Michael Rafferty, 29, has been charged with first-degree murder in Victoria's case, and his trial is expected to take place sometime this year. Terri-Lynn McClintic, 20, was charged with kidnapping and accessory to murder, and she also has yet to go to trial.
