While he may not technically be a superhero, Jon Nabbs was recognized at North Canoe Elementary School for his kindness, and his bravery in the face of Canadian wildlife and winter weather.

In May 2023, the native New Zealander embarked on a mission from St. John鈥檚, NL, to run the 7,524 kilometres across Canada, following in the footsteps of Canadian legend, and Nabbs鈥� inspiration, Terry Fox. Along the way he鈥檚 raising funds for Childhood Cancer Canada and New Zealand鈥檚 Child Cancer Foundation.

Nabbs arrived in Salmon Arm on Thursday, Feb. 8. The following morning, dressed in the costume of another Canadian hero, Superman, Nabbs stopped in at North Canoe Elementary where he shared the story of his journey with the students.

鈥淛on鈥檚 here and he鈥檚 doing a really phenomenal kindness鈥�,鈥� said principal David Wellingham, introducing Nabbs. 鈥淛on鈥檚 not trying to be Terry Fox, Jon鈥檚 trying to be Jon, and he鈥檚 his own person, but he鈥檚 also doing a really great thing.鈥�

Nabbs鈥� slide presentation began with a short geography lesson, first showing the route he鈥檚 taking across the country before delving into his country of origin, beginning with the question: 鈥淲ho has seen the movie The Lord of the Rings?鈥�

Nabbs then explained the why behind his journey that has him pushing a stroller containing his necessities across the country.

鈥淚鈥檝e been hoping while doing this that I can help inspire people a little bit and encourage them to contribute money and funds to a cause that has really called out to me, which is cancer research and finding a cure for cancer because it has affected so many people鈥檚 lives, including my family鈥�,鈥� said Nabbs, who lost his parents, Margaret Forsyth and Brian Nabbs, to cancer a couple of years ago. Their diagnoses taught him the 鈥渋mportance of continuing to find hope, inspiration, joy, and trying to live through that period on your own terms.鈥�

Along his journey, Nabbs has been visiting children鈥檚 hospitals and cancer centres, inspiring others while also finding further inspiration himself. A slide from two weeks prior showed Nabbs with a young patient at the Alberta Children鈥檚 Hospital in Calgary.

鈥淪he was such a happy child, even though she was going through chemotherapy,鈥� said Nabbs. 鈥淪he鈥檇 lost all of her hair because of the chemotherapy and the medicine she needed to take鈥� she was so inspiring to me, to see how happy she was despite the pain she was going through. It taught me a lesson 鈥� those days when I鈥檓 out there running and I feel like I want to stop 鈥� yeah, she鈥檚 a real superhero.鈥�

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Such visits, said Nabbs, are the reason for the Superman costume, which he wears to help put a smile on kids鈥� faces.

Nabbs then asked the students if they could guess some of the challenges he鈥檚 faced along the way. The first answer: 鈥渢he cold.鈥� Nabbs said absolutely, noting he was outside Calgary when the temperature hit -53 C.

鈥淏efore I left New Zealand, the coldest I鈥檝e ever felt was -5 C,鈥� said Nabbs. 鈥淭hankfully, someone came along and picked me up and brought me inside their house so I could wait out the really cold stuff.鈥�

Another challenge: 鈥渁 bear.鈥� Nabbs said he鈥檚 come across bears, moose and other wildlife not native to New Zealand.

鈥淭here鈥檚 just birds and fish where I come from,鈥� said Nabbs, noting how in one encounter a bear strew the contents of his stroller across the ground and ate his food.

Injuries have also been an issue, making Nabbs want to stop numerous times on his journey.

鈥淥ne of the biggest lessons that I鈥檝e learned from this whole thing鈥� if we set a goal, we鈥檙e always going to come across challenges along the way,鈥� said Nabbs. 鈥淭he thing I鈥檝e noticed that has really kept me going is keeping in mind 鈥� imagining the end鈥� reaching the fundraising goal of raising $100,000 for children鈥� or actually making it to Victoria and reaching the Pacific Ocean. Those things give me so much energy to keep going.鈥�

Nabbs鈥� original fundraising goal was $60,000. That goal was reached on Jan. 11 when he was in Calgary, so the goal was increased to $100,000.

Nabbs continues to post updates on his along the way. To donate to his fundraising efforts, visit his .

With files from the Revelstoke Review.