The Harbourfront Hotel donated rooms for Don and I so I arrange a 6:00am wakeup call rather than attempt one more time to set my phone alarm. I arrive in the lobby luggage, bike and bike box in tow to find Don and Mark have already retrieved the truck/trailer/van from the OPP detachment. We make a quick stop for coffee and then begin covering the 70 miles to St. Thomas. We arrive at 8:00 am as planned at the Ford Collision Centre on Talbot Street, not to repair damages sustained in a accident, but for a Tour of Hope fundraiser!
Bill Johnston Sr and wife Ruth introduce themselves as one of the only two owners of Terry's van from 1980 to 2007. Bill Sr. and son Bill Jr. take care of the van from 1989 to 2007. It was my understanding that after Terry ran his last mile just east of Thunder Bay the van was returned to a Ford Dealership in London where it was sold. Bill confirms that the van was actually returned to Funcraft, a Cambridge based firm, that specialized in camperizing Ford Econolines and other domestic vans, where it was sold. Bill is also able to solve the mystery surrounding the odometer mileage. There are only five digits on the odometer so we were not able to determine how many times the odometer had rolled. Bill is quick to add that when he handed the van over to his son, Bill Jr, in 2000 the van had traveled 100,000 kilometers. Bill Jr adds another 260,000 to the total as the van tours North America over the next 7 years with Bill's band "Removal". 360,000 kilometres and, like Terry, the van is still running.
I find it interesting that music would play a role in the van's history as it certainly was prevalent every day during the Marathon of Hope. There were very few pleasures for Terry during the Marathon of Hope. One particular favourite was after a (nother) long day of running Terry would take off on his own in the van. These late afternoon/early evening ventures, which were more frequent on the east coast, usually involved Terry searching for water or the ocean. He would slip a cassette tape of country favourites Hank Williams or Johny Cash in the dash. Writing these words I can see the contrast between the "usual torture" of running(Terry's journal words to describe a typical day running) and the soothing and rehabilitating drives and understand completely why Terry cherished them.
We have enough time after departing St. Thomas to drop the truck and trailer at the OPP detachment in London and make a stop at the Lamplighter Inn, where we will be staying tonight, for a late breakfast or early lunch. It is July 17th and we are in London 28 years to the day that Terry ran through the Forest City. I remember that day very well though sometimes subsequent visits to London have clouded these memories. Covent Garden Market in downtown London is our destination where Serge Zaina, Scotia McLeod branch manager is there to greet us. Somehow it is warmer then the day before in Windsor though the downtown buildings and cement surfaces are probably contributing to the heat. Mayor Anne Marie DeCiccio-Best opens the event with a few words and is followed by Dr.John Lewis, a recepient of Terry Fox Foundation research funding at London Health Sciences Centre. We then hear from David Webb, with 4 year old daughter Faith by his side. Sweet Faith was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer at 18 months of age. Clutching Faith's tiny hand David shares the difficulty of finding out your daughter had a one in a million chance of being diagnosed with cancer. After hearing from David I suddenly move back in time to August 27,1980 and Terrace Bay, Ontario where Terry met 10 year old Greg Scott who had flown up from Welland to join him for the day.
In a late afternoon Terrace Bay speech Terry says "People say I need stamina and courage to run across Canada on one leg but it is nothing compared to the courage I needed to get through cancer. I am crying right now because there is someone here that is going through the same thing I went through, the exact same thing, and he is only 10 years old."
It is brave little souls like Greg and Faith that inspired Terry to prove that the impossible was intend possible.
Terry's van makes further visits to Victoria and Springbank Park before the van doors close on another Tour of Hope day.
Darrell Fox
I went to school with Greg Scott, in Welland Ontario, and remember when Terry and Greg went for a swim together. Greg was the first person I knew with cancer. I was just a kid, but I can remember our first Terry Fox Run and how important it was to do what we could to find a cure for cancer. Childhood is so pure and simple. Our job was clear and honest. Follow in Terry's footsteps, for Greg.
I was thrilled to meet Darrell on his stop with the Van in London. I told him then and want to say it again here, that I am equally impressed with his dedication as Terry's. The Terry Fox Foundation is run with integrity and without gimmicks, with a pure vision and without hesitation for following the purpose laid out all those years ago. Good for you for continuing to be a good person. Good for Mr and Mrs Fox for raising dedicated children. Good for us for knowing you.
Cancer has likely impacted every Canadian. But so has Terry Fox, the Fox Family and the Fox Foundation.
I enjoyed being there on that hot day at the Market to see the Van, and to reunite with my fellow Volunteers. I feel like I did at Quaker Road Public School... we know our job is clear and honest. Terry (and the other Fox Family members) thank you for making it easy to follow your lead.
Kathy Krysa
Posted by: Kathy Krysa | August 01, 2008 at 04:54 PM