Barrie's Will Dwyer celebrates a big birthday with Terry Fox committee
One of Barrie's most respected citizens is celebrating a major milestone.
Will Dwyer, who may best be known for his decades-long dedication to the Terry Fox Foundation, is turning 96-years-old on August 2.
"I'm just one of those guys that like to raise money for almost anything, Parkinson's, veterans and Terry Fox," Will says. The well-known face was at the Terry Fox Foundation's booth at Open Air Dunlop on Saturday, where early birthday celebrations took place.
"I don't think there's very many people who are that committed and just show that much dedication to something for the number of years that he has," says Marilyn Nigro, the chair of the Barrie Terry Fox Committee. "He is a pillar of the community. When Will goes door to door, everybody greets him with a smile. They know who he is."
Will has been participating in every Terry Fox Run since its conception. In 2019, he crossed a significant milestone, bringing in more than $1 million in pledges.
"If somebody's not proud of what he's doing or what he's done, then there's something wrong," says Robert Dwyer, Will's son. "It's just unbelievable. The spinoff from people, from regular customers I meet when I'm with him or take him around for pledges. It's beautiful."
Will spent months in the hospital earlier this year, as he has been facing an advanced prostate cancer diagnosis for the last three years.
"It's been a long recovery, and he's still recovering," says Robert. "Hopefully, he'll get back to where he was before he went in the hospital on February 20."
Despite his challenges over the last year, Will continues to pursue his passion for helping the Terry Fox Foundation. He's working towards raising another million dollars.
It is welcome news to the foundation's local chapter preparing for this year's run.
"One of the new things we are doing this year is putting red lawn signs up for any Terry's Team member," says Nigro. "So if you are a cancer survivor and you would like to sign up, please contact us."
Will is expected to join the Terry Fox Committee at its tent at Open Air Dunlop on Saturdays; however, due to health concerns, he isn't expected always to be there. The Dwyer family has a website set up that can accept donations. You can find that here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
Plane overshoots runway at airport in St. John's, N.L., no injuries reported
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are headed to St. John's, N.L., after a plane overshot a runway at the city's airport this afternoon.
A teen was found buried in a basement in New York. An engraved ring helped police learn her identity two decades later
For more than two decades, the unknown victim was nicknamed "Midtown Jane Doe" because she was found in the Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood of New York City. But this week, investigators finally revealed her identity.