When he was 16, Jared Huumonen lost his leg to the same kind of cancer that claimed the life of Canadian hero Terry Fox.
Little did he know that years later, he would be asked to portray Fox during a History Moment television clip.
Jared, whose parents Shirley and Tapio live in Sicamous, will be featured in the one-minute clip, which will be running on various networks in tribute to the 35th anniversary of Terry’s remarkable journey across Canada. The clips began airing Tuesday, Sept 15 on Bell Media channels, including CTV, Much, MTV, TSN and Comedy. Then other broadcasters will start airing it, including CBC, the History Channel and Shaw networks in Victoria and Vancouver.
Huumonen was recruited to play Terry Fox through the company which makes his prosthetic leg. The production company, Historica Canada, was looking for someone who might be suitable and, although at 37, Huumonen is older than Terry Fox, his height and build was similar. With the addition of a curly wig, some short-shorts and a specially made prosthetic leg designed to look like the one Terry Fox wore, Huumonen was ready to film.
“Jared told me the worst part was wearing the wig because it was so hot as he ran.”
But Shirley says being asked to play Terry Fox was such an honour for Jared, who always looked to Terry as a hero, especially after surviving the same type of cancer, osteogenic sarcoma.
With her voice wavering, Shirley spoke of how proud her family was to see Jared running as Terry.
“What Terry did, and is still doing to help those fighting cancer. And to see Jared out there…” she says. “It still just chokes me up every time.”
Run on Sunday
Shirley is anxious for people to support the Terry Fox Run in Salmon Arm, which takes place at Blackburn Park on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. There are two, four- and 10-kilometre distances. To register, visit www.terryfox.org or in person Sunday beginning at 8 a.m.