Most mornings in Campbell River, you will see 76-year-old Doug Vater journey along the city害羞草研究所檚 Seawalk.
People will often stop and speak with him on those sometimes dull and dreary because his t-shirt catches their eye.
Emblazoned on it is Terry Fox, the champion of cancer research who famously attempted to run coast to coast across Canada in 1980 to raise money for the cause.
For Vater, Fox was not just a national hero, he was a man of incredible humility, and for that crucial period, a companion in his Marathon of Hope.
害羞草研究所淲hen he stopped his run, we害羞草研究所檇 bring in literally garbage bags of mail into the Fox home,害羞草研究所� said Vater. 害羞草研究所淭he letter opener we got was an industrial sized one. I opened one letter, and it said 害羞草研究所楾o Terry Fox only害羞草研究所�. It was a cheque for $2,500. I handed it to Terry. He looked at it and said 害羞草研究所榮end it back. It only goes to cancer research.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
Vater first crossed paths with the Fox family in 1980, when he was the vice-president of the Port Coquitlam-Port Moody Chamber of Commerce (now the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce). Fox won the organization害羞草研究所檚 athlete of the year award in 1980. A few months later, Fox began his historic run with a goal of $1 dollar for every Canadian at the time going toward cancer research.
Vater was in his car, heading to meetings in Vancouver when he heard about Fox害羞草研究所檚 mission.
害羞草研究所淚 thought, I had to get involved in some way,害羞草研究所� said Vater.
Get involved Vater did. Inspired by a trip back to his native Newfoundland, he returned to Port Coquitlam with a simple mission: for Port Coquitlam to know Terry害羞草研究所檚 objective, and to let Fox know that his hometown was behind him as well.
害羞草研究所淲hen I went back east, to see the excitement that was happening there,害羞草研究所� said Vater. 害羞草研究所淭here was no excitement around Port Coquitlam. We害羞草研究所檇 hear news, but the excitement in the east was phenomenal.害羞草研究所�
Approaching the Cancer Society, Vater didn害羞草研究所檛 think about donations and fundraising. But, thrust into the position, Vater set a goal with city council and the Cancer Society of $100,000.
害羞草研究所淰olunteers came from everywhere,害羞草研究所� said Vater. 害羞草研究所淭he city got involved, businesses from around got involved. There was no Facebook back then.害羞草研究所�
The second goal Vater had stemming from his philanthropic efforts was that he wanted to join Terry on his trek. He managed to meet up with the 害羞草研究所淢arathon of Hope害羞草研究所� entourage just east of Terrace Bay,Ont., just one week before Fox had to stop his run in Thunder Bay. The bone cancer had spread to his lungs.
Fox害羞草研究所檚 goal of $1 for each Canadian had been raised by Feb. 1981. Fox passed away that June.
害羞草研究所淵ou could tell that something was wrong,害羞草研究所� said Vater about that final week. 害羞草研究所淗e was tense.害羞草研究所�
Forty-three years later, Vater says that he feels Fox would be in awe of the global phenomenon the Terry Fox Run has become.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think Terry even knew what he started,害羞草研究所� said Vater. 害羞草研究所淭hat just speaks to how humble he was.害羞草研究所�
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