A Quebec woman is desperate to find her iconic Terry Fox Run flag that went missing after last weekend’s event in Port Coquitlam.
A retired teacher and long-time volunteer, Debra Laurie has been a Terry Fox run organizer in her hometown of Port-Cartier, Quebec for 34 years.
She says her flag has been with her for every run.
On Sunday, Laurie travelled all the way to B.C. to take part in the hometown run in Port Coquitlam.
The next day, she travelled to Vancouver Island for a five-day trip.
While in Victoria’s Chinatown neighbourhood, Laurie says noticed the flag went missing between 3 and 4 p.m on Monday, Sept. 15.
She believes the flag must have simply fallen out of the side pouch it was in and it is unlikely anyone could have pulled it from her knapsack.
Laurie says the flag means the world to her and travels everywhere with her to raise awareness.
It has been blessed by Pope Benedict in St. Peter’s Square, ridden on a camel in Mombasa, Kenya and climbed the Matterhorn in Switzerland, to name just a few places.
Laurie says she has never met Terry personally, but the flag is her connection to the Canadian hero, who she considers her inspiration and role model.
“He persevered against incredible odds and united an entire country,” says Laurie. “He selflessly made a difference in the world.”
Laurie says she is just trying to keep Terry’s dream alive and can’t imagine not having her flag to keep her going.
“I am heartbroken at the thought of never seeing it again, let alone going home without it,” says Laurie.
The red-white flag has “La Journée Terry Fox” written on it along with the iconic image of Terry Fox running the Marathon of Hope.
PHOTO GALLERY: The Terry Fox Run flag travels around the planet
Anyone who finds the flag is asked to contact Laurie at debra.laurie@cgocable.ca.
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