Move over Energizer Bunny. Kevin Harvey is faster, more determined and taller. And he's human too.
And right now Harvey's on a tear. Every day for 40 consecutive days, he's running at least 5 kilometers. He's doing it to mark the 40th anniversary of Terry Fox's remarkable Marathon of Hope. And he'd like you to donate.
When the year began, Harvey, who in 2017 at the tender age of 63 took over management of the Penticton arm of the Terry Fox Run, was looking forward to his fourth year at the helm. He's an adamant believer in the cause and Fox is, admittedly, his hero.
But in the early spring, the Terry Fox Foundation announced that all 700-plus 2020 community runs would be moved to a "virtual" format.
In place of the upbeat community gatherings and balloons and rah-rah sessions of previous years, the third Sunday of September would see prospective participants conducting their own socially distanced runs or walks.
Thanks a lot, pandemic.
So Harvey opted to take things a bit further. After all, cancer doesn't take a COVID break.
"I have no idea how he did it," Harvey marveled Tuesday afternoon, forty years to the day since Fox was forced to end the Marathon of Hope. "A marathon a day for 143 consecutive days. On one leg. He's the greatest Canadian, period."
Standing on a sunny KVR Trail in the midst of Run #30, Harvey, a lean running machine who's too modest to go on about all the triathlons (and an Ironman too) he's completed over the years, was all smiles.
"So this is the 40th anniversary of Terry's achievement. And I'm honouring him with 40 consecutive runs."
Though he favours the KVR, Harvey's runs take place at various spots throughout the city. "Each run," he says, "is at least 5K, but I've done up to 8K."
Not only is he running, but he's donating too. As are his family and friends. And when it comes to donations, Harvey is insatiable.
"Terry's dream was to get a dollar from every Canadian. So please go donate (at the links below). Or if you want to follow me, I have a Facebook page where I'm posting all my runs. I'm recording them on (run and cycling tracker) Strava and sending them up to Facebook."
Harvey's 40th and final run is set for Sunday, Sept. 20th - the same day the 2020 Terry Fox Run would officially have been held. He'll start at 10 am at the SS Sicamous, and knock off five kilometers or thereabouts along the Penticton Channel.
"I welcome anyone who'd like to come along," he said, " as long as they adhere to proper social distancing."
In fact, he'll even sell you a brand new 2020 Terry Fox Run T-shirt. They're arriving soon and they're different from the 2019 version shown in these photos. Text Harvey at 250-486-3215 if interested.
In the meantime, to register for your own socially distanced run/walk or donate to the cause, go here. To sponsor Harvey directly, go here. Or to follow Harvey's 40 in 40 journey and see the data from each of his runs to date, go here.
