Lethbridge firefighter John Wagontall worked up an appetite before he dropped into Sudbury's number one fire station for spaghetti June 20.
Averaging 150 kilometers a day, Wagontall is cycling across the country from firehouse to firehouse, in a personal tour de force, to raise awareness for prostate cancer.
The 47-year-old spent part of the day on the road, cycling 196 kilometers from Thunder Bay to the Big Nickel, and spent the rest of it talking with people about his personal struggle with prostate cancer.
Diagnosed in 2004, Wagontall's story does not come with a happy ending.
"I'm dying of prostrate cancer and it's a needless death," Wagontall said frankly. "My doctor's tell me I won't live to see 55."
"Prostate cancer has a 95 percent cure rate, yet only three percent of men are being cured. Men need to know they have to be tested in order to catch it early on so they can be treated. In my case, the cancer has already spread to my bladder and lymph system."
Now beyond treatment, the father of two said he is fit and has always led an active lifestyle.
"Research has shown firefighters are more likely to get several types of cancer, prostate cancer is only one of them and only one health risk linked to our job," he said. Local firefighter Gilles Thibault, from station number four, helped organize the Sudbury stopover which included a welcoming committee at the Big Nickel, dinner with the fire crew at the downtown station and a good night's sleep, courtesy of Howard Johnson Plaza hotel.
"John said he wanted to arrive in town on time and he did," Thibault said. "We sent one of our guys (Tony Staalstra), to Whitefish to ride in with him. We wanted his arrival to be special."
Accompanied by a camper van, driven by his friend and fellow Lethbridge firefighter Dave Westlake, Wagontall and Staalstra pulled up to the Big Nickel at 1 pm to a welcoming fit for a hero.
Local firefighters were on hand with a rig and the Sudbury Regional Police provided an escort into town.
"How wonderful it was to have an escort into town. Firefighters are like one huge family and everyone in Sudbury has been so friendly. So far, it's just like being at home. This is my first time this far east. I'm still looking around trying to take it all in," Wagontall said.
Local firefighters Darrel Mcaloney and Leon Guillett helped Wagontall to dish out dinner to the crew of firefighters at number one station downtown.
"We received word on the (Internet) that John was cycling across the country to raise awareness for prostrate cancer," Darrel Mcaloney said. "He is doing a wonderful thing. The dinner is our way of supporting him."
"John has the misfortune to have prostate cancer and he's a firefighter like us. He wants to meet with other firefighters. We are twice as likely to get prostate cancer that the average, that means three or four of us in this room will probably get it. That's why the union chipped in, so we could all have dinner here at the station and more of us could meet him."Local firefighters also showed their support by making a $500 donation to Wagontall's registered charity.
To date he has raised close to $20,000 and hopes to raise $100,000 as he cycles.
Inspired by American cyclist Lance Armstrong, Wagontall wears a LiveStrong bracelet on each wrist.
Armstrong's comeback win of the Tour de France, one of sport's most grueling tests of stamina, after beating cancer twice, is the stuff of legends.
The yellow LiveStrong Foundation bracelets are Armstrong's way of raising awareness for cancer. Ironically, Wagontall was wearing the bracelets before he was aware he had prostate cancer.
On the road again June 21, Wagontall's next stop is Nobel and then on to Toronto for the weekend. His wife Cindy will be joining the trek in Toronto and will continue to support Wagontall as he peddles his way to the Atlantic. Wagontall expects to arrive in St. John's July 23.
To read his travel log or make a donation to his charity, visit www.cycleforlife.ca.
