BARRIE LOSES TERRY FOX RUN FUNDRAISING CHAMP WILL DWYER

WILL DWYER, 96, KNOWN FOR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT TERRY FOX FOUNDATION, RAISED $1 MILLION IN 2019

The Barrie community has lost a million-dollar legend.

Will Dwyer died May 8 at age 96.

Dwyer, a Second World War veteran, raised funds for the Terry Fox Foundation for more than 40 years and took part in the first run in Barrie.

In 2019, he surpassed his goal to raise $1 million for the charity.

Even then, he wasn't giving up on his cause.

"When I finished (in 2019), I said, 'I feel good' and I'll start for a second million," Dwyer said in an earlier interview.

Dwyer believed in supporting the Terry Fox Foundation. He lost his mother and two sons to cancer, and was a cancer survivor himself.

"The memory I get is that it's fitting this year the T-shirt for Terry Fox is 'I am Not a Quitter'," Dwyer's son Robert said. "He showed us that right down to his last breath." He said his father died in hospital from heart failure while also dealing with respiratory issues.

Robert said his father always put other people ahead of himself.

"He volunteered in so many different areas, with the Royal Canadian Legion poppy fund, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and the Parkinson's Society," he said.

"My mother passed 26 years ago from Parkinson's and that's when he jumped on board with that one. I told him, 'dad, you've got to pick one or another, people don't want to give donations for both — including me.'"

To help his dad reach the $1-million fundraising goal, Robert retired from firefighting in 2019.

"He needed a chauffeur," Robert said. "I thank all of his supporters, whom I've met over the last three years. They loved to see him coming each year — not just to give a pledge. They wanted him to sit in the garage and have a drink."

Dwyer always had a smile on his face when helping others, he said.

"It would be nice if we could continue the support for the cause."

In 2019, Dwyer went to Italy to mark the 75th anniversary of the Italian campaign as a former private with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

In 2020, Dwyer was given the Sovereign's Medal

for Volunteers for his commitment to the Terry Fox Foundation and other charities.

He leaves behind five children, 11 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, residents

were asked to donate to Will's Quest for $2 Million with the Terry Fox Foundation, or the Barrie Royal Canadian Legion.

"He doesn't like flowers, he told me if I put a flower on there ... " Robert said.