Calvin Synod Herald, 1985 (85. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1985-10-01 / 5. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 6 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA I Running Across Canada — on an artificial leg | I met István Fonyó for the first time last September, when he arrived in Toronto from St Johns, a town on the Atlantic coast and gave an interview in Hungarian to the television programme Magyar Krónika. The next day he was cheered in North York where he gave an interview on the radio of the Cultural Centre and, looking at him, it was obvious that the interest of the Hungarian media made him feel good. Yet, there was a time, when Pista Fonyó’s “Journey for Lives” encountered minor as well as major difficulties. Remembering Terry Fox, who had to give up before he could reach the target, many people criticized him: “All he wants is fame, he is imitating Terry... He will not finish either ...” He even had squabbles with the Cancer Society for whose benefit he set out on a run across the width of Canada. Wherever he arrived in the early stages, people did not show much enthusiasm. When he reached Toronto, which was about half-way, total donations hardly exceeded $400,000. At Thunder Bay, where Terry Fox was forced to give up, the public began to pay more interest to István, and the further he ran towards the Western coast the higher his popularity rating soared, almost from kilometer to kilometer. Donations also began to flow: besides individual pledges, the provincial governments also contributed sizeable sums to the financial success of his noble objective. But then the real ordeal began. By then he had to fight against nature too. He pushed on across the Canadian prairie through snowstorms, with a heroic determination to reach his target. Then bad news arrived. He had to stop running, strong pain developed in his leg, and he had to be taken immediately to Vancouver for a medical examination. We were very anxious about him, but thank God, there was no serious trouble and we could again see him running on the road after a few days rest. István arrived from the bleak winter into pleasant spring gathering fering from cancer as he passed mile-stone after mile-stone. Reaching the border of British Columbia, he was given a terrific ovation. No wonder, he had reached home base. During the rest of his run the subject of conversations was Fonyó. who in the realization of his determined endeavour was but a few miles away from his original target. I looked at my watch, it was 6.30, and that was the moment Pista appeared on the screen happily waving to the crowd in pouring rain, running in front of a car that had followed his run all the way. It was driven by his father. And on he ran in the city of Victoria towards the shore of the Pacific Ocean, giving radio and television interviews on the road. I am certain that many of our countrymen all over Canada barracked for Pisty Fonyó that day. He was within the last kilometer, running at his accustomed pace. In a matter of minutes his dream will have come true. His family, who gave him backing and support from the first moment was naturally with him. As he stepped on the red carpet rolled out for him, photographers were everywhere, a television cameraman was knee-deep in water waiting for him. At precisely 19 hours 18 minutes Toronto time István Fonyó, the Young Canadian-Hungarian put his artificial leg into the water of the Pacific Ocean, the final move in the realization of his great endeavour. After the vicissitudes of fourteen months István was able to finish what Terry Fox started. Let us look at the figures: István Fonyó started his cross- Canada run “Journey for Lives” on the 31st of March 1984 in the town of St Johns, Newfoundland. Fourteen months and 7,924 km later, on 29th May 1985 he arrived at the other end, the city of Victoria, British Columbia. Cost of petrol for cars $6,145.00 Cost of use of escort car $15,000.00 Other expenses $18-20,000.00 Accommodation, meals, flights and gear: contributions at no charge. He needed 17 pairs of jogging shoes and 8 new artificial legs to complete the run. The great endeavour raised more than S9 million to date. Pista was made a honorary mayor of all of the larger towns along the route, and given the symbolic keys to these, elsewhere he was made honorary chief of police, or chief of the fire-brigade, indeed he was even appointed ‘honorary prisoner' by a penal institution. In British Columbia he was given a scholarship to train for piloting helicopters. Right now he is enjoying a welldeserved rest on an island in the Pacific. DEZSŐ BARICZ A more and more hope for people suf(CanadiO = &MHIHIIIIMIMIIIIIIIIIIItHIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIimillllllllllllllllUIIIIII!llllllllllllimilltl(llll|llllllll||ll|IHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIillllllllHIIIIIIIII||l|||ll|lltl|||||||M||IUt||||||||||||ll|IMI||l$ Reseda, California Mrs. Krisztina TAVASZI,a31 year old' Hungarian high school teacher, the mother of two young boys, who lives in Oradea, Romania, requires urgent help in her need of a kidney transplant. Her illness suddenly and unexpectedly commenced in early 1984. She was lucky to get on one of the few kidney dialysis programs in Romania, which is supported by a West German medical group. With great financial sacrifices to her family, she is kept alive through the dialysis. Professor Dr. V. Heinze, a kidney specialist from Offenburg, West Germany, examined this patient in the summer of 1984. The professor offered to help her through a kidney transplant, which he could perform at his hospital in West Germany (no kidney transplants are performed in Romania or in Eastern Europe). The West German hospital would underwrite most of the room and board expenses. However, it is estimated that approximately DM 80,000 or $25,000 needed, half of which would be used for the transplant operation, the other half will cover extra expenses for dialysis and medical care while the patient is waiting for a suitable donor in West Germany. We have letters from friends and from a local minister who vouch for the worthiness of this cause. The Tavaszi family is a respected, close knit family, very limited in financial resources. The husband, Balint Tavaszi is a teacher at the same high school his wife used to work in Oradea. Both are active members of local churches; Mr. Tavaszi is of the Reformed faith (Calvinist), while Mrs. Tavaszi is Roman Catholic. Our church is setting up a special account to help the Tavaszi family. We will absorb any administrative expenses. For more information write to Grace Hungarian Reformed Church, 18858 Erwin Street, Reseda, California 91335. Rev. Frank Juhasz Shepherd celebrated 30th anniversary of his ordination into the ministry October 13th at the First Hungarian Lutheran Church of Cleveland, OH. About 400 guests participated in the celebration which began with a concert of sacred music. It was followed by a bi-lingual ecumenical worship service and was concluded with a formal reception in the Kossuth Center of the church. Twelve professional musicians and a concert choir of 25 honored Rev. Frank Juhasz Shepherd with their artistic performance. Thirtyone clergymen participated in the worship service, during which Dr. Gabor Brachna preached in Hungarian, and Dr. Elam G. Wiest preached in English. Thirtieth Anniversary
