What to know
- Quinn Strang survived cancer twice. He was first diagnosed at 15, with only a 15 per cent chance to live at 16, then again at 17.
- He hitchhiked across Canada at age 20 to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation and raised over $100,000, splitting the proceeds with the IWK Foundation to help other kids fighting cancer.
- His journey was inspired by Terry Fox, his uncle’s own hitchhiking experience, and his personal battle with cancer.
At 15, Quinn Strang was diagnosed with stage four cancer. At 16, he was told he had a 15 per cent chance to live. After beating it, it returned at 17. Twice, he beat cancer. Now, at 20, he’s hitchhiked across Canada to raise over $50,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Strang could not live a “normal” high school life. He was in and out of the hospital, and still made valedictorian.
@quinnstrangmusic I didn't want to post this for the longest time simply because I don't like talking about it or the attention it brings. However, after speaking with someone I graduated with and watching again, I came to realize it would be selfish of me not to share the message with as many people as possible. Sorry it took so long to post, I was in the shower. Anyways that's why I started playing guitar #speech #valedictorian #graduation #fyp ♬ original sound – Quinn Strang
Now, he’s a lifeguard at a water park in Atlantic Canada and is set to attend the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) in the fall for social services.
Why he chose to hitchhike across Canada
When summer came, Strang decided to hitchhike across Canada to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation, inspired by his uncle’s hitchhiking experience, Terry Fox’s journey, and his own cancer battle.
“My uncle hitchhiked across Canada back in his day, and he had a lot of stories to tell, and that kind of got the idea in my head,” Strang told Now Toronto. “When I was planning my route, I looked into what Terry Fox did, and that’s when I was like, ‘If this is going to get attention, I’m going to follow this route and try to raise some money.’”
But Strang was diagnosed with stage four Ewing sarcoma at the age of 15, a tumour in his femur, which quickly spread to his lungs and lymph nodes. This further inspired his initiative to raise money for the foundation.
“I had cancer twice, so it kind of hits close to home for me,” Strang shared.
Strang experienced a femur transplant and could not run, so on May 17, he started his hitchhiking journey.
“I’m doing my own spin on it. I don’t want to touch that or ruin any legacy because Terry Fox is the greatest Canadian of all time,” he said.
By Day 12, Strang had reached Toronto and already raised about $40,000.
@quinnstrangmusic #cntower #toronto #cancer #terryfox #canada ♬ original sound – Quinn Strang
The people he met along the way
Hitchhiking might sound like a scary idea, but Strang had it all planned out.
Once he arrived at his stops, friends and family across the country welcomed him to stay the night. Sometimes, people even DM’ed him to stay over. But just in case, Strang has a tent on the side of a highway if needed.
He’s had strangers give him short rides all the way to some very long ones.
Strang recalled a Russian truck driver bringing him 10 hours from New Brunswick to Montreal. That same driver was also his most wholesome hitchhiking experience yet, by bringing him to see the sights in Quebec City and doing scenic walks.
“This guy didn’t have to do any of that for me, but that was probably my most wholesome experience,” Strang said.
He’s also had heartfelt connections with other drivers, such as a gentleman who also had cancer when he was a kid.
“I got a drive from a gentleman who had cancer. It affects everyone. He was from Guatemala, and he had throat cancer at the same age as me, and he had a speech impediment from radiation. Because I had radiation on my leg too, I kind of understand what that can do to a muscle,” Strang shared. “He told me he just hiked across Mexico back in his day, and he was a great guy.”
Though hitchhiking isn’t always easy.
His biggest low yet: not getting picked up for hours.
“I barely made any progress, and I lost my sign. I was getting swarmed by flies. I have so many bug bites, it’s completely absurd. I didn’t get to where I was trying to get till sunset,” Strang explained.
Reaching Terry Fox’s final destination
Despite the lows, he did not give up. In fact, Strang just completed Terry Fox’s path on Saturday, concluding in Port Coquitlam, in front of Terry Fox’s grave.
Standing in Port Coquitlam at the end of his journey, Strang had raised more than $109,000 — exceeding his original goal and helping ensure other families facing childhood cancer receive the support they need.
@quinnstrangmusic #terryfox #cancer #portcoquitlam #fyp #canada ♬ original sound – Quinn Strang
How much money did he raise?
Strang originally had the goal of raising $100,000.
“I’m doing $1 for everybody from the city of Moncton, because Terry Fox did $1 for every Canadian, but I’m no Terry Fox, so that’s my goal,” he said.
At the time of publication, Strang had surpassed his goal, having raised $9032 more than he hoped, for a total of $109,032.
“50 per cent of all proceeds will go to the Terry Fox Foundation. When you see first hand what these kids are dealing with when undergoing cancer treatment, you’ll understand why Terry Fox did what he did,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page.
The other half will go to the IWK foundation to support the children and their families who are under the same care Strang received.
The proceeds will be directed to the Patient Family Support Trust Fund, a service that supports families with unplanned expenses such as emergency admissions, emergency care, and more.
“I’ve experienced first hand the financial strain rare treatment plans can put on a family despite our Canadian healthcare system. No family should have to carry a financial burden in the face of a child’s critical diagnoses. The IWK treats kids with critical illnesses all over Atlantic Canada,” the GoFundMe reads.
The GoFundMe remains open and can be found here.
