Mr. Speaker, there is nothing more powerful than a Canadian family dedicated to an important cause, such as fighting cancer.
Thirty years ago we were inspired by Terry Fox. In the House we saw first-hand the struggle of Jack Layton, supported by family members like the member for Trinity—Spadina. More recently Canadians celebrated with Riley Senft, a 32-year-old whose West Vancouver family together confronted the challenge of prostate cancer. Riley's grandfather died of prostate cancer in the fall of 2010, and his father Rod, a leading Canadian businessman, is undergoing second-time treatment for this disease.
Bruised but unbowed by cancer in the family, Riley ran over 6,600 kilometres from coast to coast, speaking in communities as he went. Buoyed by his father, his mother Jeannie and his siblings Derek and Lauren, Riley has raised over $500,000 in the battle against prostate cancer. Over 1,000 people greeted Riley in West Vancouver this month to celebrate the completion of his astonishing run.
May we now rise as well to acknowledge this outstanding Canadian.