Fundraising giant Will Dwyer passes away at age 96

Community fundraising giant William Dwyer died Sunday night. He was 96 years old. 

Dwyer leaves behind an impressive legacy of raising money for the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope and Royal Canadian Legion poppy fund that will be hard to match.

Beginning his campaign to give to the cause 40 years ago, Dwyer always aimed to raise $1 million for the Terry Fox organization. He attained that in 2018. 

Terry Fox Run Barrie organizing committee chair Marilyn Nigro told BarrieToday that Dwyer ended up raising approximately $1.1 million for the charity. 

Not just dedicating his time to the Terry Fox Run in Barrie, Dwyer also gave his time to the Royal Canadian Legion’s poppy campaign. In 2018, Dwyer was awarded the Order of the Spirit Catcher for his charitable work in the city.

In 2018, Dwyer told BarrieToday that one of the reasons he gave so much of his time was that he lost two sons to cancer and his wife to Parkinson's disease. 

Originally from Carbonear, N.L., Dwyer came to the Barrie area in 1964 while serving in the military, stationed at CFB Borden. 

Dwyer did two years with the British Army and when the Second World War was over, he got out and went back to Newfoundland.

With no work anywhere, he joined the Canadian military and spent 25 years with their artillery.

When done with that in 1967, Dwyer then worked another 20 years as a civilian driver at CFB Borden.

He remained in the Barrie area after his retirement raising his seven children. 

Dwyer and his late wife, Ellen, had six sons and one daughter. He was also blessed with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

BarrieToday will have more on the life and accomplishments of Will Dwyer later today.