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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 23, 2008 - 3 If you have a news tip or story idea, call the Oakville Beaver at 845-3824. SPRING SALE ON NOW! LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER BRINGS BACK MEMORIES: Lou Fine and Darrell Fox take a moment to sit in the van that followed Terry Fox across Canada. Fine was one of the Regional Managers for the Cancer Society of Northern Ontario where he met Fox just south of Sudbury in August, 1980 just before he was forced to end his Marathon of Hope. 50 Styles of Barstools $99 - $249 Marathon of Hope van restored Ford restoration a special tribute to Terry Fox By Hiba Kesebi SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER An important piece of Canadian history has been restored. The van that followed the Terry Fox on his cross-Canada Marathon of Hope journey to raise money for cancer research in 1980, will once again travel coast-to-coast for the same cause. That's because the Terry Fox Foundation was able to retrieve the van and hand it over to Ford of Canada who committed themselves to restoring the vehicle to its original condition. "The vehicle was dissembled down to the very last bolt. It wasn't your typical restoration where you just put a bunch of new parts on this van and make it look great... it was about preserving all the original components on this vehicle," Dean Stoneley, Ford of Canada's vicepresident of general marketing, told the people who crowded the lobby of the Ford of Canada headquarters in Oakville. And when the van was unveiled, everyone, including Terry's brother, Darrell Fox, National Director of The Terry Fox Foundation, were in awe at how well the van was restored to its 1980 condition. "Wow. Wow, this is just too much to take in," said a speechless Darrell. "The color is bang on, bang on," he continued, referring to the van's ivory tint. He was also amazed at how well the seating was restored with its beige and brown stripes. "It could be said that the van is only an object. But it is so much more than just metal...It is a home, Terry's home--his place of rest, comfort and security, for four-and-a-half months during the Marathon of Hope. Tears from frustration and pain, touched the van...through the van's windows Terry would peer across Canadian landscapes and city views wondering what lay ahead for him," said Fox, fighting hard not to choke on his tears. With support from Scotia McLeod employees, the van will be back on the LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER THERE IN SPIRIT: The memory and image of Terry Fox was present during the unveiling ceremony of the restored marathon of Hope van at Ford of Canada on Thursday. road starting Sunday to fulfill Terry's ongoing legacy. It will start its journey in St. John's, N.L. and will make it across the country to Victoria, B.C in time for this year's annual Terry Fox Run. The van will make stops at hosted events, which will be free of admission. Craig Jarvis, manager and advisor at Scotia McLeod, said that 1000 Scotia McLeod employees in 50 locations will be awaiting the arrival of the Fox family and Terry's van at locations throughout Canada. He also presented the Terry Fox Foundation with a $1,500 donation from the bank to kick-start the Tour of Hope donations. With its whereabouts being unknown for the last 28 years, Darrell Fox followed up on a tip and acquired the 1980 Ford Econoline van that was Terry's home on the road. Upon hearing the Foundation had retrieved the van, Ford of Canada stepped up and committed to restoring the vehicle to its original condition. The van had been picked up and shipped from Burnaby, British Columbia to a speciallyequipped customization auto shop in Bradford, Ontario. A full restoration was conducted on the interior, exterior and powertrain of the vehicle, with the goal of returning the van to its original 1980 state. It took more than 1,000 hours for the van to be restored to its 1980's state. Keith McDaid, one of the four people who were responsible for it's restoration, said that the team worked on its restoration for approximately 22 hours a day. "Actually, we just finished today at 4:30," he laughed. "But there wasn't a doubt in my mind that we wouldn't finish." For more information on the tour visit www.tourofhope.ca Made In Canada Sofas from $699 $1189 Solid Wood Table & Six Chairs Choice of Chair Style and Choice of Finish Made In Canada $2698 Solid Birch Bedroom Suite Queen Bed $789, King Bed $949 Included: Queen Bed, 2 night tables & dresser. Choice of Stain 1029 Speers Rd., Oakville 905.842.3739 Speers Rd. & 4th Line (Main Location) WWW.JOSHUACREEKFURNITURE.COM