Making Mile 0
MacDougall to complete cross-country cycle where Terry Fox began historic run
Fresh from a hot shower and sipping on a Guinness, in a St. John’s bed and breakfast, the sense of satisfaction rang out loud and clear in Chris MacDougall’s voice.
And, ‘proper thing too, b’y,’ as they might say in Newfoundland.
At 10:30 on Wednesday morning, the Truro businessman is scheduled to arrive at the Mile 0, Terry Fox Monument after cycling some 7,200 kilometres, from his departure point Vancouver on July 24.
“I’m trying to hold myself back from being too excited,” the Truro businessman said.
In less than two weeks, MacDougall will turn 62. But at the end of his long ride, which he did as a fundraiser and awareness generator for the Beatrice Hunter Research Institute, MacDougall said he was feeling in top form.
“I probably feel better now than when I started,” he said.
“I had much, much more anxiety for probably two months before I left. Once I was on the bike, I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
MacDougall conducted the venture, called Charlie’s Ride, in memory of his son who died of cancer in 2004 at age 14.
So far, the effort has raised almost $171,000 for cancer research. Over time, however, he expects it will generate much more, through a trust he is creating c alled the Charlie and Dan MacDougall Endowment Fund for Cancer Research.
Dan was born 20 months ahead of Charlie and he recently arrived in Newfoundland to cycle with his father for some of the final kilometres.
“This province (while beautiful) has been a lot of work, a lot of hills and cold, but not too cold.” said MacDougall.
He timed his ride so that he only has about 15 or 20 km left on the final day. And despite the excitement evident in his voice, MacDougall said he is most satisfied he has been able to complete a goal years in the making.
“I’m not as excited as I am really satisfied that I was able to pull it off,” he said.