William Dwyer is expected to reach $1 million this year, even if local firefighters have to walk 20 kilometres in full gear to help make it happen.
Firefighters from across the region banded together Saturday to help 94-year-old Dwyer reach his longtime goal of raising $1 million for the Terry Fox Foundation.
A walk was organized from CFB Borden, where Dwyer’s firefighter son Robert serves, to the cenotaph in downtown Barrie in hopes of reaching the monetary milestone.
Borden firefighter Jason Jonjen told BarrieToday that, going into Saturday morning, Dwyer had raised about $908,000 and the tally before the walk was $30,000.
“There will be more to add to that total, obviously, as we’ve been collecting as we walk,” said Jonjen. “Folks have been really generous and very interested in what we’re doing, so this will go down as quite a community effort.”
Firefighters have been walking in their gear, which adds 70 pounds and can be quite tiring.
Jonjen has had his own issues today, but says it's no discomfort compared to what Dwyer has done in his life.
“I wore my full gear, including my station boots up until the 10-km mark and then the blood starting pouring through my socks from the blisters,” he said. “I changed to running shoes, but I’ve got the Curt Schilling thing going on here with my bloody socks.
"It is all worth it, though. Will is highly respected not just for his perseverance in raising money for Terry Fox, but as a war veteran," Jonjen added.
Dwyer is known for going door to door as the Terry Fox Run gets closer, with this year’s Barrie date being Sunday, Sept. 15 at Centennial Beach.
Clearview Township firefighter Matt Leblond, who is one of the more than 40 people who have made the 20-km walk from Angus to Barrie, said there's certainly discomfort, but there's also comfort knowing they are helping a local hero.
“A lot guys are beat, lots of sore feet, lots of chafing,” Leblond joked during an interview with BarrieToday. “Sometimes what keeps us going is each other, making each other laugh and all, but mostly we’ve been thinking about Will.
"I think about what Will did for our country when he was serving and how far he has come with walking through Barrie, going door to door and never giving up. He’s an inspiration to us all.”
To help William Dwyer reach his goal, go to his fundraising page.
