Mike Strange had some company on the weekend as he continued on his run across Canada in support of cancer research.
Niagara Falls councillor Victor Pietrangelo met up with Strange in Regina to join the former Olympic boxer for a portion of his Boxrun — Running for the Fight trek. And the councillor came bearing gifts for Strange.
“He brought some cheques from himself and other councillors,” Strange said Tuesday as he prepared to head out on the next leg of his journey, one which would bring him to within 20 kilometres of Moose Jaw.
“It was great, he was in good shape,” Strange said of his running mate. Pietrangelo had flown in to Regina on Friday night and joined Strange for a 40-kilomtre stretch of the run on Saturday.
For Pietrangelo, it was simply a matter of wanting to show some support for Strange’s effort.
“It was great to be out there and give Mike some support,” Pietrangelo said. “I give him tons of credit for having the physical and mental stamina to run 40 kilometres each and every day.”
Running across the prairies has presented few problems for Strange, at least nothing like the blizzard conditions he faced on an earlier portion of the run.
“It’s really starting to heat up,” Strange said, noting that temperatures have reached as high as 29 C. “We’ve still got the wind and stuff.”
The winds were something Pietrangelo now has a full appreciation for.
“As a runner, I know how the elements of the weather can affect you,” Pietrangelo said. “And I think right now Mike is gaining strength from difficult runs. I know only two days ago (May 9) he had to run against 50 km/h headwinds. Running into winds this strong it is easy to find a point to stop, but he hasn’t.”
The run through Saskatchewan has been relatively low key, Strange said.
“Regina is probably not as aware (of the run) as Winnipeg,” Strange said. “I expect Calgary and Vancouver to be bog with a lot of people.”
He has been visited by camera crews from CBC and Global Television during his time in Regina.
When he hits Moose Jaw, Strange plans to pay a visit to one-time Olympic teammate and former national team wrestler Justin Abdualic. The grappling theme will continue when Brock Badgers and national wrestling team coach Marty Calder will join Strange.
Strange’s goal is to have the run wrapped up by Canada Day July 1. Besides the work of Terry Fox, whose Marathon of Hope was cut short in 1981 when cancer returned and eventually claimed his life, Strange has drawn inspiration for the run from Kelsey Hill, a 13-year-old Stevensville girl who succumbed to a brain tumour earlier this year and from 11-year-old Matteo Mancini of St. Catharines, who just this past September lost part of his left leg to cancer.
Strange’s journey — which began April 12 in Thunder Bay — hasn’t been without its challenges — he fought through a blizzard in English River, Ont,, hilly terrain near Thunder Bay back in April and cold winds in Manitoba.
