LETTER: Maple Ridge resident wants Fonyo’s medal re-instated

Dear Editor,

Steve Fonyo deserves his Order of Canada reinstated.

The Canadian Cancer Society should demand the Order of Canada Medal returned immediately. He gave his all to them, and they treated him quite shabbily.

Several weeks after his run and the nations spotlight was on him. He obliged their demanding requests for personal appearances across Canada, I know, as they agreed to have him appear as parade Marshall on my CKAY radio station float in the Duncan Summer festival parade. Our helicopter picked him up at Vancouver International where he was arriving from an appearance night before in the East, he had five hours before his flight to Kelowna for another event. We helicoptered him to Duncan, appeared on an open line radio program where he appealed for cancer society donations, mounted our float in the parade, waving, signing autographs, doing more than was expected. We returned him by helicopter to YVR where the plane was being held for him and his next fundraising appearance.

Here is the rub. He was penniless. I gave him $150 of the money we had raised. Later I received a severe reprimand from the cancer society which demanded I replace the money. Steve Fonyo was not entitled to any money. He was raising millions of dollars and awareness for them, yet they kept him penniless.

We all know the story of his downfall once the spotlight had faded. That is old and very sad news. I believe many of his problems were bred during his courageous run and the enormous pressure of fame and the demands on him. Keep in mind that Steve Fonyo was only 19 years of age when suddenly all of this landed on him.

The Order of Canada is for actions created prior to the recognition. The cancer society and indeed all Canadians should demand Steve Fonyo be reinstated and receive the recognition he so richly deserved and still deserves.

Dick Drew, Maple Ridge

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• READ MORE: Steve Fonyo dies at 56

• READ MORE: Fundraiser created for man battling pancreatic cancer

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