Former North Thompson resident “Fast Eddy” (Edward) Dostaler hasn’t slowed down 10 years after his momentous charitable run in Canada. Raised from age eight to 12 in the Clearwater area, he now wants to give back to the region once again with a new book due to be launched September 28.
From now until July 1, “Fast Eddy” is offering a free e-book copy of his new memoir entitled, Iceberg, as a thank-you to residents in the North Thompson and Okanagan.
“For me it’s about giving back to the communities in the Thompson-Okanagan who were behind me the whole way during my run in 2015," he told Black Press Media. "Offering them a free e-copy of the book is my way of saying thank you.”
Dostaler currently works in Fort Hills near Fort McMurray, and lives in Grand Cache, Alberta. With family living in Kamloops where he says, “it all still feels pretty close to home," and he wanted to write the book from his own perspective of the solo unsupported run and the many interactions along the way.
“It’s about committing to something that matters more than comfort and continuing to show up even when no one’s watching. It’s about letting purpose, not praise drive your steps. This book reveals what existed beneath the surface of what people saw online or in headlines. It’s raw, often unpolished, and at times uncomfortable. It’s honest. I kept going not to impress anyone, but because the causes were worth it,” he said.
The run took place starting on March 1, 2015 in Victoria, B.C. with Dostaler’s goal of running across Canada to bring awareness and raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
Dostaler and his jogging stroller that he nicknamed ‘Aurora’, set out on a coast-to-coast and back journey across the country that would take place over 21 months covering 20,000 kilometres.
“Iceberg is more than my memoir. It’s been a long time. I’m not trying to rekindle the run or recreate the energy of the run; it’s about acknowledging the people along the way that shaped it. It covers Clearwater and Barriere as those were the areas that showed the greatest support. I did school presentations at Raft River Elementary, Darren Coates, the principal at Clearwater Secondary and his son ran with me, kids went out on their own fundraising around town, there were signs throughout the valley that inspired me as I ran,” explained Dostaler.
The runner turned author feels “this is a time when Canadians need a good story, something that says we’ve done good” and that the book will give people a “window into the real Canada, it’s people, it’s kindness and it’s terrain” as it introduces the reader to the communities that opened their doors and their hearts to him.
When asked about the 10 years it took to complete the book, he said, “Because you can’t always see the effect of something right away. I wanted to step back and really understand what the run meant. Not just to me, but to the people I met, the kids I spoke to, the causes we ran for. Sometimes the only way to really understand a story is to give it time to settle. Time gives you clarity. You get to see what stuck, what changed, and why it still matters.”
“Iceberg is about more than what happened on the road. It’s about why we show up, for others, for causes, and for the belief that effort, done with heart, still counts," he added.
To access your free e-book, visit the website:
http://www.fasteddycanada.com/
