Cancer survivor nearing end of trek

 Tim Harriman, who was diagnosed with leukemia five years ago when he was just 14, hopes the stories of patients he’s met on his cross-country bicycle trek will be enough to convince the federal health minister to name a national childhood cancer awareness month.
    Harriman, 19, was in Halifax yesterday during the tail-end of his tour to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer. He left Victoria on June 3 and plans to finish in St. John’s, N.L.,  on Aug. 24.
    “I think it’s important to raise awareness that kids are affected by cancer and give them a chance to tell their stories” said Harriman, whose cancer has been in remission for two years after he underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
    As of this past weekend, the young man from Aidrie, Alta., had raised more than $56,000 through his Spokesman Tour for Childhood Cancer.
    In addition, more than 2,600 people had signed his petition to name September as the national childhood cancer awareness month. He plans to present this petition to federal Health Minister Tony Clement in the fall.
    He has also spent much of his journey meeting with young cancer patients in hospitals across the country. On Sunday, he visited the IWK Health Centre, a children’s hospital in Halifax.
    “Visiting the hospitals is one of the main focuses of my tour and collecting their messages and artwork to get September named childhood cancer awareness month,” he said.