Regina man runs over 1,000 kilometers to fundraise for cancer centre
Richard Exner is a man on a mission. He started his challenge of running every street in Regina back in May to raise money for the Allen Blair Cancer Centre. Five months, later he’s almost finished.
“So far I’ve ran about a thousand kilometers,” he said. “I anticipate it’ll be another 50 or 100 to go.”
Exner is an accomplished runner already. For a solo charity run in 2014, he ran the outskirts of Regina. In 2017 he ran from Moose Jaw to Regina, a 65 kilometre feat.
But for Exner, the fact that he’s running that far isn’t important. What’s important is why he’s doing it.
“I’ve had a couple of family members who have lost battles with cancer,” he said. “They’ve been patients at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre and it was very helpful for them. So it’s near and dear to my heart.”
He explained the running challenge is the least he can do to support the center in some way after they helped him and his family.
“The perseverance that it takes to battle cancer, as a patient and as a family, right?” he said. “No one’s alone as they battle cancer. So, I’m just kind of running and raising as much awareness, support and donations as a guy can.”
A map of Regina shows the roads Exner has run so far. (David Prisciak/CTV Regina)
Nora Yeates, the CEO of The Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, which fundraises for the Allan Blair Centre, as well as several other programs and facilities pertaining to cancer treatment in the province, said she’s amazed by Exner’s challenge and commends him for efforts.
“Its people like Richard that selflessly go out and give back by doing something,” she said. “It’s that selfless generosity that time and again we continue to see in this province. It’s about caring about other people and putting other people first, and you know, it’s what charity’s’ made of.”
With the finish line in sight, Exner is happy with the challenge and hopes it will be a success.
“I would like to hope that it’s a success,” he said. “I’ve been able to basically finish the challenge. So, me personally it’s a success and you know even if one person donates then I’m going to consider that worthwhile.”
Exner plans on completing his final run-on Saturday and finishing at the bridge over Wascana Creek near the intersection of Ritter Avenue and Dorothy Street. The location has a special meaning to Exner.
“Growing up, my dad and I, he was a big canoer, so we would always canoe to that bridge and turn around and go home,” he explained. “So, it’s kind of a fitting ending place.”
Exner plans to donate a dollar for every kilometer he’s run as a part of the challenge. To support his fundraiser, you can visit the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan’s website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.