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Health Brings Wealth

Terry Fox was the first fundraiser of his kind, and since his heroic trek across Canada in 1980, to raise money in the hopes of finding a cure for cancer, The Terry Fox Foundation has raised more than $400 million for cancer research across Canada and worldwide. The annual Terry Fox Run is held every year to commemorate the Marathon of Hope, which has inspired so many people. This year’s event takes place all across Canada on September 16. But the legacy of Terry Fox has inspired some to truly follow in his footsteps.

Rich Aucoin is a 24-year-old musician from Halifax. He writes, records and produces all of his own work, and incorporates organs, drumsets, trumpets, flutes, recorders, turntables, tin whistles, and more to create his original, eclectic sound that reaches across many different genres.

This summer, he is doing his first cross-Canada tour to promote his music. But this is not just any ordinary tour. Aucoin is cycling from Victoria to Halifax to raise as much money and awareness for the Childhood Cancer Foundation as he can, and at the same time, entertain as many people as he can at shows along the way.

“It’s a great way to see all of our beautiful country and perform across it,” says Aucoin. “It’s also a great way to help others by doing something so physically challenging that it encourages people to pledge me as I cycle through their towns and cities. I’ve always tried to do something with my shows by raising money for Feed Nova Scotia and The Aids Coalition of Nova Scotia and now The Childhood Cancer Foundation. I think what they’re doing is great and it feels good knowing that you’re making people both happy with your music as well as making people happy by helping out families undergoing an illness.”

Aucoin says he has met a lot of interesting people on his trek, and has played a lot of fun shows so far. Not a trained cyclist by any means, he found the mountains out west quite challenging but is now riding like a pro, at the perfect pace to stop and see and do things he may normally miss when touring on the road by bus or car.

He also wants to raise awareness about how other people can set up their own fundraisers and gather pledges for a good cause. One fundraiser the Childhood Cancer Foundation has is called Cutting Off Cancer. At the end of each show, Aucoin cuts of a lock of his curly hair to encourage others to do the same type of thing.

“I’m hoping that people will feel good from the music and the experience of the show and in the fact that they’ve helped support a good cause and that their fun and entertainment led to much needed work by the various researchers that the Childhood Cancer Foundation funds.” Aucoin’s tour kicked off in May and he will return home to Halifax mid-August as he has a show scheduled for August 17 at Gus’ Pub. Like a true bluenoser, every time he performs, Aucoin proudly wears his tartan scarf, even when it makes him overheat on stage.

To read more about Rich Aucoin’s cross-Canada tour and how you can give your support, visit www.myspace.com/richaucoin

Not only has Trevor Redmond walked across Canada to raise money for cancer prevention, research and awareness, he is now walking back! Trevor Redmond is a Nova Scotia native living in Calgary. On March 26, 2006, he set out on a journey and walked roughly 6,600 kilometers from Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia to the waterfront in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This past March, Redmond departed on the second leg of his journey, an incredible 8,500 kilometer trek back. This time, he has added Newfoundland to his travels to incorporate all ten provinces in his journey, which he calls “There and Back”. As of the beginning of June, Redmond had traveled across Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and started through Quebec. He is now following his tracks back through Ontario, and the Prairies to the Pacific coast. Redmond hopes to reach Vancouver before the first snowfall. While some train for months to run one marathon, Redmond attempts marathon walks of 26 miles every single day. Upon reaching Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec, Redmond had taken 12,135,632 steps and covered a total of 9,592 kilometers, round trip. The millions of steps he takes are all in support of the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation’s efforts in beating cancer. The facility, in Toronto, Ontario is Canada’s leading cancer research hospital.

To read more about Trevor Redmond’s journey and give your support, visit www.thereandbackcanada.com