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A fundraiser run for Childhood Cancer Canada and Make-A-Wish Canada has made it to Northwestern Ontario.
Avid runner Rick Fall started what he calls ‘the marathon of his life’ in Victoria, near his hometown of Duncan, British Columbia in April bound for his current home in Sault Ste. Marie. He’s calling his campaign FalloRick.
By running about 42 kilometres a day and taking rest days, Fall made it to Dryden Friday afternoon and stopped at City Hall where Mayor Greg Wilson presented Fall with a certificate of appreciation.
“What inspired me was Terry Fox and the couple other gentlemen who have run across Canada and I thought well if they’re doing it, I can do it while I still can. I may as well do something that I love doing and raising money and awareness to two foundations that became quite dear to my heart,” says Fall.
After taking a rest day Saturday, Fall will continue east through the region.
“It’s nice to meet the mayors and people in town, so it will be at least a one-day stop in Thunder Bay,” he said. “It will be a long stretch from Thunder Bay through to Sault Ste. Marie, but I’m looking at August 7th to be in Sault Ste. Marie.”
Fall adds he and his wife are actively involved with their city’s Annual Terry Fox Run, as he lost his mother to lung cancer in October 2013. He also has a niece who suffered for many years with an illness and got a wish from Make-A-Wish Canada.
“I’ve worked in the school system quite a bit as well, and I’ve seen children suffering [from], succumb to and beat cancer,” Fall says. [There’s] just too much suffering of cancer in children, and I thought ‘Why not try to have them not suffer so much, and be able to support their families?’”
To date, his run has raised $53,692 out of the $200,000 goal.
You can keep up with his journey and donate at fallorick.com.
