If there is a 1980 Ford Econoline sitting in your driveway, it probably doesn’t elicit too many cheers, however, if it once belonged to Terry Fox that is another matter, entirely.
Tuesday, the van that once served as Mr. Fox’s headquarters on wheels during his Marathon of Hope, stops in Markham, on the way to completing the journey he could not. And a special guest will be on hand, someone with a close connection to the Canadian legend.
Judi Fox-Alder, Terry’s younger sister is to speak at the event.
To support the cause, tour sponsors ScotiaMcleod host a fundraising barbecue at their offices (675 Cochrane Dr.) July 8.
From noon to 2 p.m. you can see a piece of Canadian history and chow down on a burger to raise money for the cause. There will be a suggested donation price for the lunch.
“We’re very excited about it,” branch manager Jan Thompson said.
She met Terry’s brother and Terry Fox Foundation chairperson Darrell Fox at a fundraiser in Banff last year and it is an experience she has not forgotten.
“It was pretty unbelievable. Not only did we raise a lot of money, but also awareness,” she said.
Darrell tracked down the long-lost van with a little help from author Douglas Coupland.
Mr. Coupland wrote a biography of Terry and ran into someone at an art gallery opening, telling him an artist in East Vancouver had purchased it. It had changed owners numerous times and was even the touring van for a Vancouver rock and roll band for a time. Each owner knew it was Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope van.
Superficially, it was in remarkable condition, even the original orange shag carpeting remains intact. Nonetheless, it needed something of a tune-up.
Word got to Ford of Canada and the 1980 Econoline van was back in the foundation’s possession and the automotive company decided to pay for its restoration to the condition it was in when Terry Fox had it.
Keith McDaid supervised the restoration in Bradford West Gwillimbury, including disassembling and reassembling it in its entirety, so it could be taken on another cross-country journey.
“It wasn’t in good shape,” Mr. McDaid said of the van’s condition upon its arrival in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
Four experts worked with Mr. McDaid and his friend Ken Natrass.
“I thought it was pretty neat. It’s a historical thing for Canada,” Mr. Nattrass said.
The van is stopping at 50 communities across the country, having left St. John’s on May 25.
Markham is the only York Region stop, but it is at various locations in Toronto from July 9 through 12.
It arrives in Victoria, B.C. in time for this year’s Terry Fox Run Sept. 14. The annual runs have raised more than $400 million for cancer research.
Go to www.yrmg.com/photogalleries/bfd/0806foxvan/ to see more of the restoration.
— with files from Sandra Bolan