Cai and Brett McLean ready to welcome Terry Fox Run supporters with a cold cup of iced tea. (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

FUNDRAISING FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Six-year-old Kamloops boy with cancer raises thousands in Terry Fox Run donations

Sep 20, 2020 | 3:24 PM

KAMLOOPS — 40 years later, Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope lives on in Kamloops, with one of its youngest supporters leading by example.

Every year, six-year-old Cai McLean and his family take part in the Terry Fox Run and fundraise for the Terry Fox Foundation. This year they added to their online efforts by gathering donations through an iced tea stand.

Donning a bright red Terry Fox shirt, Cai was ready to work his magic on the official day of the run (Sept. 20) – reminding his customers to use hand sanitizer before donating. Within minutes of opening the stand Sunday, the family’s driveway had several supporters waiting for their turn.

“There’s a big line up, I think we need to fill up some more,” notes Cai, while overlooking his iced tea supplies.

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Fundraising for cancer research is particularly important to Cai, as he has been battling a form of spinal cancer since he was 11 months old. He underwent surgery when he was 15 months old to remove it, however the cancer returned. For the past several years, Cai has been flying back to Toronto every few months for treatments, and takes chemotherapy medication daily.

Cai’s father, Brett was also diagnosed with cancer two years ago – making the Terry Fox Foundation’s mission even more meaningful to the McLean family.

“It’s something that has been very important to us, and with Cai fighting cancer it has also caused mobility issues on his right side,” McLean says, “So Terry (Fox) has been a real hero for us with his fundraising efforts and everything he did to raise awareness for cancer research. But also it’s someone that Cai’s been able to look to as someone who has had difficulty running, and still been able to accomplish great things.”

McLean says Cai’s attitude has been extremely positive through the experience. “Like most kids, he wants to help,” explains Brett, “This is something that’s been very close to him, and something that he’s been able to understand through his own struggles. And this is a way that he’s able to be just like his hero.”

The fundraising goal this year was $600, however as of Sunday morning the family had raised over $6,300 and counting.

A steady stream of neighbours and community members came throughout the afternoon to donate and encourage Cai to ‘keep it up’. Including several employees with Surerus Murphy, who had heard of Cai’s fundraiser and paid for some iced tea with a $1,000 cheque.

McLean adds for anyone who missed out on the iced tea, there are other ways to show support online this year.

“Our fundraising page is www.terryfox.ca/teamcai so you can donate through there, or through the BC Chapter at terryfox.org.”