For the second time, Salmon Arm's Russell McCann will bike across Canada in support of medical research, this one for the Terry Fox Foundation.
McCann, who is now in his 60s, was invited to join the foundation's Ride of Hope by Terry's brother Darrell Fox after they met at the 55+ BC Games last summer. The local athlete applied and, after an intensive interview process, was chosen to be one of the team of riders.
The group of 10 to 12 cyclists will depart from Vancouver on June 9 and pedal to St. John's, Newfoundland in 32 days, arriving on July 10. The goal is to raise money for cancer research through the Terry Fox Foundation in what is the 45th anniversary of his Marathon of Hope.
Previously, McCann cycled across the country for meningitis research in 2005 after his best friend lost his daughter to the disease.
"My dad is now in his early 60s, and making this second trip across Canada is daunting for him," McCann's daughter Saige McCann said in an email. "His primary motivation for pushing himself to train and work towards supporting the Terry Fox Foundation is in remembrance of his mother Virginia McCann who passed away from cancer in March 2015."
She added that she wants the community to know a local is making this journey and support him both financially and by cheering him on, particularly when he rides through Salmon Arm on June 11. McCann has currently raised $2,700 of his $45,000 goal, to which donations can be made at ride.terryfox.ca/page/russmccann.
McCann, who nearly died after a serious farm accident when he was three, is deeply involved in local charity work as well as farther reaching causes, and is the leader of THRIVE and organizes the Single Mom's Oil Change event every year with local businesses and volunteers. McCann's dedication to charitable causes is evident in his favourite Terry Fox quote.
"Being self-centered is not the way to live. The answer is to try and help others."
While McCann is inspired by Fox, he is the inspiration for his own family of four adult children and two grandchildren.
"I'm so unbelievably proud of my dad for braving this... and representing our family and town so well. For training and struggling through the elements to bring honour to his beloved late mother and fighting for this important cause with the Terry Fox Foundation," Saige added. "I want the city to see what I see and send their support to one of their own."
