Un voyage pas comme les autres : Le voyage de Chris Tymofichuk vers le record du monde passe par Ottawa

Since July 12th, Chris Tymofichuk has travelled around the country catching CFL games at every stadium, hoping to set a Guinness World Record – his run would break the current record by a mere 90 minutes.

On Friday night, as the Ottawa REDBLACKS host the Calgary Stampeders, he’ll be in his usual seat.

The Winnipeg native has spent around half of his life in Ottawa, and has been a REDBLACKS season ticket holder since the club’s inception in 2014. TD Place is the penultimate stop on his tour, which will wrap up tomorrow night in Toronto.

“I thought it was a great way to travel in the summertime, see the country, and visit all nine CFL teams,” Tymofichuk said. “When the league sent the schedule out, I found a window of opportunity.”

Tymofichuk believed his trip could be used as more than just bragging rights and his name in a book, however, and quickly, he jumped on the opportunity to use it as a fundraiser for a pair of important charities: CFL Fans Fight Cancer and the Michael Cuccione Foundation in Vancouver, BC.

“It started as a simple idea where I thought I could collect 20 or 30 dollars at each stadium, and I could donate it to CFL fans fighting cancer,” Tymofichuk said. “I created a bucket, and it has quickly taken over. People recognize the bucket, I’m the bucket guy. The generosity by the fans across the league has been fantastic.”

Before taking in a game in Montreal last night, Tymofichuk estimated that roughly $20,000 – which is halfway to the goal he hopes to achieve by Grey Cup – had been raised by hospitable fans across the country, both through cash donations, and online pledges

In the past three weeks, Tymofichuk says things have taken on a life of their own. People are playing “Where’s Waldo” on television, trying to spot his black and pink jersey in the stands, but it’s the reception he has felt from every fan base that has been the most special part of his escapade.

“Everything has been organic,” Tymofichuk said. “People want a feel-good story, but what has really been impressive to me are all of the people who come up to me and tell me their stories of battling cancer. It has morphed into something much bigger than the record attempt.”

Though Tymofichuk’s name is the one that will end up in the record book, he believes it’s the fans across Canada who have made this trip special, and have given it a real meaning.

“This is not one person, it’s a collective effort by CFL fans across the country,” Tymofichuk said. “Together, we’re making a difference for those that aren’t able to do so.”