Fonyo weds on Victoria beach

Steve Fonyo, the one-legged runner whoraised millions ofdollars to battle cancer as a young man, has taken a bride.

Fonyo, who was married Saturday on the beach in Victoria where he completed his cross-Canada trek 25 years ago, says his wedding to Lisa Greenwood marks a new beginning in his life, which has seen many difficult moments in recent years.

"Now that I have a wife to look after, it's going to make me more responsible and make me settle down," Fonyo, now 45,told CBC News. "I'm going to be the same person, but much more responsible."

Fonyo, who lost a leg to cancer at age 12, ran across the country in 1984, raising more than $13 million for cancer research.

However,Fonyo's life fell apart as he got older.

The one-time national hero, who was honoured with the Order of Canada, has battled personal demons, including alcoholism, cocaine addiction and depression. In 1996, Fonyo pleaded guilty in Edmonton to more than a dozen charges ranging from assault with a weapon to fraud and theft.

By 2008, he had at least seven driving convictions, including impaired driving, for which he served time in jail. He was stripped of his Order of Canada in January.

Fonyowas arrested this month at his Surrey, B.C.,residence and charged with using a fraudulent credit card at a gas station in the neighbouring municipality of Delta. He's due in court on those charges in two weeks.

When Fonyo announced he wanted to marry Greenwood, hisgirlfriend of two years,people in Victoria rallied to his side until they learned Greenwood was in jail for theft and assault convictions of her own.

While other donors pulled their financial support for the ceremony, Norma Fitzsimmons, 88,stood by him. The retired florist believes Fonyo can change.

"He better or I'll kill him," she told CBC News with a laugh.

"He said to me yesterday, 'Norma, how will I ever, ever, ever thank you for all you've done for us?' I said, 'Steve you just stay out of jail and behave yourself, be a good boy.' And he said, 'I'm going to, I promise.'

"That's all I can hope for," Fitzsimmons said.