VANCOUVER — The man who raised millions for cancer research is thanking the public for supporting him after he was stripped of the Order of Canada.
Steve Fonyo made the comment from jail, where he is serving the remainder of an assault sentence after breaching his parole conditions.
The Order of Canada can be revoked for several reasons, including when a recipient has been convicted of a criminal offence, but in a phone interview with CTV, Fonyo says he does not deserve to lose his medal.
He says if something is given to someone, it is theirs to keep, despite the hard times they may endure.
The 44-year-old was just shy of 20 in 1985, when he finished his 14-month trek across the country, raising $13-million for cancer research.
He has had a troubled life since then, including dozens of criminal convictions and varying jail sentences for assault, forgery and drunk driving.