Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

MARATHON OF HOPE

Kamloops family keeps raising funds for Terry Fox Run through iced tea stand

Sep 17, 2021 | 3:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — Cai McLean is becoming accustomed to his yearly interviews.

“It looks like I’m going to be on the news again this year,” Cai says, to start his interview with CFJC Today.

The media attention seems to coincide with the annual Terry Fox Run. The McLean family spent the summer running an iced tea stand outside of their Sahali home, raising money for the Terry Fox Foundation.

“Terry Fox is a huge hero of ours,” McLean tells CFJC Today. “My son and I — he’s battling cancer and I’m a cancer survivor — and it’s something where our family has really been recipients of the benefits of the cancer research that has taken place.”

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The iced tea stand has been in operation since last year and started as a way for the whole family to contribute to the fundraising efforts.

“My son and daughter wanted to have an iced tea stand and be a part of the fundraising, be outside and active,” Brett says. “And who doesn’t like iced tea?”

Cai is certainly a big iced tea guy — but he might be a bigger Terry Fox fan.

“Terry Fox tried to run around Canada but could only make it halfway because his cancer came back,” Cai explains. “For a long time, he was my hero, because I had cancer, too.”

The run remains virtual for 2021, meaning participants are being asked to walk, run or ride anywhere. The McLean’s plan is to make their way down to the hospital and drop off messages of support for health care workers. All the money they’ve raised? Cai knows where that’s headed.

“It all goes to the Terry Fox Foundation,” he explains. The family also plans the run the iced tea stand after they finish their walk on Sunday afternoon, so there’s still time to contribute. For Brett, even small donations can have a big impact.

“The marathon of hope started quite small, and it was really everyone else recognizing the importance and realizing Terry’s dream,” Brett explains. “If it’s virtual this year instead of everyone getting together and being in the same place, then that’s what we have to do. But we can all try like Terry and do our best to raise funds for cancer research.”

The stand will be set up on Gladstone Drive from 4:00 p.m.-to-6:00 p.m. this Sunday (Sept. 19). Be sure to stop by and quench your thirst for this important cause.