Local man bikes in cross country relay for cancer research

For Harry Feduik, the worst words he could hear as a parent are ‘your child has cancer.’

Fediuk and his wife were told their youngest son Braeden had acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was two-and-a-half years old. Almost eight years later, Braeden is now a healthy 10-year-old ready to start Grade 5 next week.

"It still chokes me up every time I try to talk about it," Fediuk said, "It was a very big shock."
After Braeden’s first few weeks of treatment, his doctors were optimistic and Fediuk said the Thunder Bay family soon realized he would be fine.

To show support to other families dealing with the same situation Fediuk is participating in the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride starting in Vancouver Sept. 9. Forty-five riders will set out and travel 160 kilometres that first day. Then they split into three teams and complete the cross-country journey relay style.

The ride raises money for national children’s cancer programs from research to Camp Quality, a summer camp program for children who have or have had cancer and their siblings, which Braeden and his older brother Kyle have attended for the past five years.

"That’s my cause – to really help families like myself and my wife and my two children," Fediuk said. "We went through that. We know what it’s like. We want to support other families this way."

As an employee of Sears and an avid cyclist, the event seemed like a perfect fit for Fediuk. He rode with the team that traveled from Thunder Bay to Nipigon last year and thought with some proper training, he could be part of this year’s team.

He also hopes to pass the message along to his sons that they can do events like this in the future and help other kids and families.

"My sons, they’ve been an inspiration to me for years," he said, "They are my two little heroes. What they’ve seen and learned through being involved with Camp Quality, I think they’re more of an inspiration to me than I am to them."

To donate, people can visit www.searsnationalkidscancerride.com and pledge riders, including Fediuk or they can gather a team, raise some money and ride alongside the national riders on the Quetico to Thunder Bay and Thunder Bay to Nipigon legs of the ride.