September 12th, 2009 - Port Coquitlam
My good friend Alec (who will hopefully be running beside me in March) had informed me that his Aunt Jan was attending the Great Canadian Head Shave in Port Coquitlam. This was an event that was being held to raise money for cancer research and Jan had raised an outstanding $3,505. I accepted his invite to join him and his family to witness Jan's head shave and congratulate her on her achievements. We got there a bit early, thus we had time to explore Terry's van, the exact one that followed him halfway across the country to Thunderbay, Ontario. It was now Jan's turn to go up on stage and have that full head of hair shaved right off. The spirit in that environment was was incredible, it was an environment full of giving people and positive energy and I was so happy to be a witness of it all. But it was as Jan was getting her head shaved that I truely began to feel inspired, inspired by her and all others like her who are out there with a goal to make the world a better place. Congratulations Jan! She came down from the stage smiling and looking happier than ever. I felt happy for her, proud of her success and determination. It was then that the MC of the event announced that anyone who was willing to shave their head could come on up and do it. I looked up at my friend Alec who returned my gaze, we were both thinking the same thing. I felt incredibly spontaneous hopping up on the stage and signing Alec and I up to get our heads shaved. We then went to work collecting money to use as a fundraiser for the event. In ten minutes, Alec and I raised over $150. I rubbed my hair as if to say "goodbye", well actually, to in fact say goodbye and prepared myself for the shave. Our names were called and we were ushered into two seats in the middle of the stage, all smiles. It took roughly 5 minutes for it all to come off, and placing my hand on my head, I not only felt my spectacular shinning baldness, I also felt the power of giving and it felt great! I waited a moment for Alec to finish, I was unbelievably proud of him. We walked down off the stage, still smiling, and were told by Jan that we would meet Terry's parents! I felt my heart beat race in circles and squares. It had just hit me that Port Coquitlam was in fact the home of the Fox's and here they were standing right in front of me! They congratulated us on our "bravery" and we shook their hands, posing for the camera. I looked into their eyes and I could see the face of a man who had so inspired me for much of my life. A man who, although I did not know personally, taught me how to fight whenever I had the strength or the heart. A man who put pride into the hearts of all canadians and strength into the bodies of millions of cancer patients.
September 15th, 2009
Our website is finally up! Please support the cause and make a donation through the website. Here is the link:
We thank you for your generosity!
