By Surbhi Gogia
SURREY: Many have attended his English classes in Surrey, and many have read his books on English grammar, but this time Avtar Singh Virdi has set out on a new journey to teach the entire Canada some new lessons on Cancer.
A two-time cancer survivor, Virdi has begun to walk across Canada through 13 major cities from East to West to raise funds for Cancer awareness and research. Virdi started his walk on June 14 from St. John’s, New Foundland& Labrador, the same spot where Terry Fox began his journey. He will be walking through 16 major cities of Canada, concluding his journey in Vancouver’s Stanley Park on July 9. He will be moving by car from city to city.
Virdi says he aims to spread awareness about this life-threatening critical illness which he says according to research is going to take into its grip every second person in the coming years. However, there is still a lack of awareness about the treatment and even the reasons behind Cancer. He is embarking on this journey to raise funds that will help in promoting more research on why do we get Cancer?
A question that Virdi says he asked himself and the doctors but did not get an answer to, when he got to know about his Colon Cancer in 2017.
Virdi, who runs GTP Marvelous College that offers training for CELPIP and IELTS exams in Surrey, moved to Canada in 2004 with his family. An engineer by profession, but a teacher by passion, Virdi has been imparting English speaking skills and training to many students. He feels GOD gave him everything in abundance, but he started feeling something was wrong with his body. “It came as a shock to me and my family when I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer,” he says. He says he could not understand why he got it. But he says, “I have faith in medical science and treatment. I started following every Chemo or radiation therapy, they offered me. They declared me Cancer free. However, my Cancer relapsed within 2 years. I went through treatment again and was declared cancer-free on March 28,” he recalls.
It was at that time he decided to raise awareness about it. “During my treatment, I read about many conflicting theories, I read about many people who refused to take treatment, the more I read, the more I became determined to create awareness,” he says.
Virdi says, “Then I read about Terry Fox and I was greatly inspired by his small but great life of only 22 years. He spread the awareness of cancer in 1980 with an exemplary spirit despite his half leg being gone to cancer. I and millions of people have survived from cancer due to his walk that he started from St. John’s, New Foundland& Labrador in 1980 across Canada that he couldn’t complete.”
And now Virdi feels, it is his turn to contribute. He says, Terry Fox was a legend who inspired million, if he can attain even a small fraction of what Terry Fox did, he will consider himself lucky. “I after surviving twice from cancer, realized I am still alive due to Terry’s great vision for people like me. I feel Terry Fox is still alive in the hearts who know about him and have suffered from this critical illness like me directly or indirectly.”
Virdi was determined to complete this mission even if no one supported him. But he says many community members and organizations have stepped forward to support him. Gurudwara DukhNivaran Sahib in Surrey has stepped forward and sponsored the event. They did Ardaas for him to complete what he has started.
His aim is to walk 600Km and raise funds. All the funds raised will be going to the BC Cancer Foundation which in a letter of support said they were pleased to confirm Avtar Virdi and his Cross-Canada Walk for BC Cancer and appreciated Virdi’s support for his community.
His message to the world is, “Friends, I have decided to follow Terry Fox and remind the whole world, if possible, to save more and more people from cancer. This is a great challenge for me as I am not an athlete. My family is worried about me. However, I am determined to go for it.”
