Terry Fox statue in central B.C. defaced beyond repair

ATerry Fox statue in Prince George has been vandalized beyond repair in what police believe was an attempt to sell scrap metal for money.

RCMP Const. Gary Godwin said the culprits made off with part of the statue's head.

"That's what they probably thought it was, a bronze statue," he said. "However, it's not a bronze statue. It's some sort of a plastic fibreglass resin with some bronze filing mixed in."

'It appears that nothing is sacred anymore.' —Dick Voneugen

Dick Voneugen, who said he was inspired by a chance meeting with Fox at a marathon long ago, helped bring the statue to downtown Prince George.

He said the community warmly welcomed the statue and some good citizen actually put a hat and scarf on the statue to keep Fox warm last winter.

Voneugen told CBC News he's appalled someone showed such disrespect by attacking "our national hero."

"It's unbelievable that this could happen," he said. "We're totally surprised. It appears that nothing is sacred anymore."

Godwin said vandals drew swastikas and a moustache on the statue, in addition to knocking off part of the head.

Voneugen said the statue is beyond repair and it will cost thousands of dollars to replace it.

The city is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

Fox tried to run across the country on an artificial leg in 1980, in an effort to raise money for cancer research.

He had to abandon the run when his cancer returned, and he died soon after.