Steve Fonyo stabbed in home invasion
VANCOUVER — Steve Fonyo, who raised millions of dollars for cancer research, is in the hospital with serious stab wounds after what police believe was a targeted home invasion early Friday in Surrey.
The victim has been identified by local media as Fonyo, known for his crossCanada Journey for Lives marathon run, which raised $14 million for cancer research. The RCMP has not released the victim’s name.
Surrey RCMP say they were called to a residence about 5 a.m. Friday. When they arrived, officers found the man suffering from an apparent stabbing injury. He was taken to hospital in serious condition.
Fonyo’s mother Anna confirmed to The Canadian Press that her son was hospitalized, but said she did not know what happened to him. Jag Sidhu, who owns a house that was surrounded by police tape Friday, confirmed Fonyo lives in the home.
RCMP investigators believe three people came to the residence and assaulted the victim. Officers with the Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit said initial indications are that the attack was targeted.
The attackers have not been identified, said R CM P spokesman Cpl. Bert Paquet.
Pa qu e t said police don’t know the motive, but hope to know more once the victim comes out of surgery and they can speak to him.
Fonyo, who lost a leg to cancer at 12, received an Order of Canada in November 1985 for running nearly 8,000 kilometres across the country in the mid-1980s for cancer research, but it was stripped from him in 2010 because of numerous criminal charges. His life has been plagued by legal troubles in recent years, including convictions for fraud, threatening his wife, assault and drunk driving.