Barrie’s super fundraiser might be slowing down, but he’s not giving up.
After having blown out the candles of his birthday cake decorated with an image of Terry Fox running the famed Marathon of Hope to mark his 96th birthday, Will Dwyer is still doing what he can for the cause.
“I’ve been helping to find a cure for cancer and I’ve been doing it for over 40 years,” said the determined Barrie man. “I can’t get around like I used to, but my son, Bob, he gives me a hand.
“He knocks on the door and I stay in the car… just a few doors now.”
Dwyer said after all this time people in Barrie know him and know to expect a visit, although these days it’s Bob Dwyer doing much of the legwork.
The senior Dwyer said he will keep at it, although he now has prostate and skin cancer himself.
“I’m going to keep going till I drop,” he said. “I’m not going to give up, I’m just going to keep going.”
Bob, the younger Dwyer, said he is now retired and happy to help out his dad by reaching out to his contacts for donations, taking his dad to Terry Fox events and even arranging media interviews.
Terry Fox, said Bob, ignited a flicker in his dad that he’s maintained all these years.
“He saw what Terry had done with one leg, and he couldn’t believe it and his journey was cut short from his goal and that’s when dad picked it up and started to work on pledges,” said Bob.
Over the years Will has seen cancer take its toll - a nephew died of the same cancer as Terry at age 22. His mother also died of cancer as have two of his sons.
Dwyer, originally from Carbonear, N.L., came to this area in 1964 while serving in the military, stationed at CFB Borden. He remained here after his retirement raising his seven sons.
Bob is his youngest.
“I’m retired myself, two years, and I try to do what I can to get him around because I know it’s the only thing that’s keeping him going,” said Bob. “If I can help out in any little bit like that, then that’s golden, right. I feel proud myself, actually doing something to help somebody.”
The senior Dwyer has been actively raising money for the cause since it began 41 years ago. He has single-handedly raised more money for the Terry Fox Foundation on his own than any other Canadian, having raised more than $1.2 million so far. He’s also raised money for Parkinson’s and has sold poppies for the Royal Canadian Legion over the years.
“People just know him,” said Marilyn Nigro, chair of the Barrie Terry Fox committee. “To be 96 years old and still have goals is just amazing.”
With Bob at his side, he keeps reaching out and doors keep opening, she added.
Will has his heart set on reaching the $2-million mark and to help him get there Nigro is hoping to get him a little more help. She is encouraging community groups, businesses and individuals to raise money in Dwyer's name.
"It all goes into the same pot at the end of the day, but if we put it in Will's name, that just helps him, personally, achieve that goal," she said.
Members of the Barrie Terry Fox committee will be on hand every Saturday along Dunlop Street during Open Air Dunlop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Sept. 19 and Dwyer will attend when he can, expecting to be there next on Sat., Aug. 21.
“Come up and talk to him and he will hit you up for a donation,” chuckles Nigro.
New T-shirts acknowledging Fox’s Indigenous maternal grandmother will be available.
This year’s event is scheduled for Sept. 19 but it is virtual, so participants can run, walk, cycle or participate in whatever activity they choose at any time.
Cancer survivor Randy Greengrass heads up Terry’s Team, a group of people battling the disease and survivors, who wear red shirts in support of the run. This year Terry’s Team will also be given red lawn signs to promote the event.
Survivors are encouraged to participate by signing up for free online.
Greengrass has also launched the Silver Fox Walk, an initiative to get folks in senior's homes involved.
Last year the local initiative raised $150,000 in Barrie, a community of about 150,000, which nicely matches Terry’s goal to have every Canadian donate $1, said Nigro.
To help Dwyer reach his goal, go to http://www.terryfox.ca/WillDwyer.
