New Zealander crosses through Strathmore during cross Canada run

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

New Zealander Jon Nabbs is running across Canada, aiming to raise money for cancer research, making the journey alone, and without a support vehicle. 

He passed through Strathmore on his journey, Jan. 9, on his way to Calgary to stop at the Children’s Hospital.

“What I am up to is attempting to run all the way from St. John’s Newfoundland all the way to Victoria, B.C. in a Superman costume,” he said. “I am doing this, stopping at (children’s) hospitals – specifically at the cancer centres at various children’s hospitals along the way and visiting the kids who are there receiving chemotherapy and cancer treatments.”

Nabbs explained he is fundraising for cancer patients across New Zealand and Canada, with a goal of reaching $60,000 over the course of the journey. 

He started the journey in early May 2023, taking on roughly 20 km a day. Over the course of the run, Nabbs’ distances have been getting progressively longer. He is now able to breach 75 km covered over the course of a day. 

“I am doing the whole run unsupported, which has only been done by four people in history, which means there is no support vehicle, no team, nobody following me, it is just myself running,” Nabbs added. “In order to carry all the equipment that I need to survive, especially through the Canadian winter, I have got myself a baby stroller that carries my tent and my sleeping bag, my food, clothes, laptop, everything.”

This particular cause, Nabbs explained, carries significant weight for him, as he lost both his parents to cancer within the last three years.

Via his website, he talks about being very aware of the desperate feelings a family experiences following a diagnosis, and the importance of continuing to find hope, inspiration and joy. 

“The cause means a lot to me … if I can help us move even a little bit more towards finding a cure and making the world a place where cancer can be cured (by) a doctor, that is a big motivation for me,” he said. “Three years ago I lost my dad to skin cancer, and two years ago I lost my mom to bowel cancer. I want to do something constructive about that grief … I heard about Terry Fox a long time ago and his story, combined with the loss of my parents to the same disease Terry died to definitely motivated this journey of mine.

For any who are interested in following and/ or donating to Nabbs’ cause, they are able to do so at jonnabbs.com. A link is also open through his Instagram page (@jonnabbs).