THUNDER BAY — Inspired by Terry Fox, ultra-marathoner Ryan Keeping is trying to keep his memory alive with a cross-Canada run of his own.
The 26-year-old Halifax resident, with a police escort in tow, arrived on Tuesday morning at the monument dedicated to Terry Fox, saying he had to pay tribute to a man he called the greatest Canadian.
Keeping started running 75 kilometres a day on April 1, dipping his toes in the Atlantic Ocean in St. John’s, N.L.
It’s awe-inspiring, said Keeping, some 4,225 into a journey he plans to wrap up on July 7 in Victoria, having already raised more than $100,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
“Terry means everything to me,” said Keeping, draped in a Canadian flag and donning the white Terry Fox shirt that’s become the trademark of his run.
“I’m so proud to be Canadian when there are people like that from our great country. For him to do what he did at such a young age, with all the adversity in his life, is absolutely incredible.
"Really, in life, it doesn’t matter how long you live. You can make a huge impact if you live it right, if you live it true to your heart, and you know what you’re going to do.”
Keeping, who is documenting every step of his journey on social media, was greeted by more than 60 people at the monument. Locals and tourists alike posed for pictures in front of the statue, which overlooks Highway 11/17, with the Sleeping Giant nestled in the waters of Lake Superior in the background.
Running an ultra-marathon every day is by no means easy, but Keeping said he looked at it as a challenge, something most people would never consider doing.
It made him want to do it even more.
“I’ve always been pretty obsessed with pushing limits, especially for Terry Fox or someone like that. I see what he did, and what I’m doing is nothing compared to that,” he said.
“And also, when I see the support. When I go places, and there are so many people coming out and all the Instagram following and all the money we’re raising, it’s pretty easy getting out of bed.
"Yeah, I love doing it, and really, we’re just getting started. I want to try to inspire people all over the world to chase their passions and be good people.”
Eleven-year-old Avah McMahon was one of the dozens on hand to greet Keeping as he made his way through Thunder Bay.
“He’s very inspiring,” the youngster said. “I really wanted to see him.”
Keeping has a GoFundMe page set up to collect donations, and he’s also taking cash donations along his route.
