It was a simple pop-up ad on the internet that took John Braby from online banking to carrying an Olympic Torch.
In an interview at his home in Arthur, Braby said one of the pop-up ads invited people to carry the torch. “And I thought – yeah, I can do that.”
About two weeks later, he was on the iCoke website and saw the same thing.
He applied to there as well.
Under two weeks later, he received an email response from Coke that stated they had the application and that if he was serious, to draft a short essay on how he lived Olympic – “which really meant how do you live an active life.”
When he applied to the Royal Bank, his essay was about what he was going to do to make Canada a better place in 2010. He wrote that he had joined Habitat for Humanity and was part of the build committee in Arthur for the first one ever in that community.
“That’s making life better for a whole family, here in town.”
When Coke asked me to write about being active, he wrote about being a 68-year-old grandfather of four grandsons – at the time ages 12, 11, 10, and 9.
“Coca-Cola loved it. They came back immediately and said, “We will nominate you to VANOC, and we’ll sponsor you.”
While there were pages and pages of documentation, Braby said it essentially boiled down to “be a good boy, don’t embarrass the Olympics, and can we do a police check on you? I was surprised, and a bit impressed that they were being that careful.”
After that, there was a one page letter that he had been selected and was given his designated torch number.
“What actually came first, was the red T-shirt from Coca Cola, a special souvenir made out of recycled Coke bottles.
On the back, was a map of the whole route, plus some interesting statistics on the event.
His wife, Marie, said, “I laugh at this because John doesn’t have an athletic bone in his body … to see him as part of the Olympics.”
He said, “I’ve never done anything athletic – except for what the army made me do.”
He said the next thing that arrived was a kit from Coke and an email of electronic artwork, and to “tell the world you’re now a torch bearer. Then came my Vancouver cheer kit, again from Coca Cola and the Royal Bank.”
He pointed to a number of items in the kit including a Coke bottle that will light up, a bunch of flags to give to his family to encourage them to cheer him along, and a handbook with all the rules in it.
The other thing in the cheer kit is a plastic shopping bag, but when it is unzipped it turns into a banner that can be used to cheer him on.
In the handbook was a suggestion that he practice, carrying something of approximately the same weight as the torch.
He said 300 metres may not seem a long distance for an athlete, but is a fair bit of time to hold 3.25 pounds in the air.
Braby’s practice torch is an inverted Coke bottle, which turns out to weigh roughly the same amount as the Olympic torch.
“When I go out practicing my run, I carry it up in the air to get used to the weight. It might seem like overkill … but it’s fun. My kids just love it. They think its a hoot when I tell them these things.”
He was not finished receiving support.
“Then came my uniform, which included a set of Olympic red mitts, which are different than the ones in the stores. They have a non-slip surface to grip the torch.
“With the rest of the uniform … I’m ready to roll.”
“I’m carrying the torch on Monday, Dec. 28, at 8:20am on Eramosa Road, in Guelph.”
His run starts at the intersection of Eramosa Road and Montgomery, heading towards Orangeville.
He, like many torchbearers, had little information about who else was carrying the torch or when.
“I don’t know who I receive the torch from, or who I pass it on to. I get that briefing at 6am on the morning of the run.
“There are some pretty specific instructions, which I find wonderful. The organization behind this is phenomenal.”
“At that point, we get instructions how to light the torch, how to carry it and how to pass it on.”
All the runners are being shuttled to and from their run.
He also noted that for family members, there is a webcam covering all of that on CTVOlympics.ca, Braby said.
“So I’m able to tell my family and friends who can’t cheer me on, that if they are watching the webcam at exactly the time I’m running, or probably running, they’ll be able to see me. As the day gets closer it’s kind of exciting.”
He added there are family members talking about heading to Guelph to see him run – even though it is in the early morning. He added that he is not just going to carry the torch during the Guelph event.
Because Braby also serves as a member of Wellington North’s economic development committee, he will be heading to Mount Forest later that day to take part in the celebrations there.
“By then I will have my torch.”
He has already decided to buy his torch at the end of his run.
“I will have my torch and my uniform and go to the party there.”
The run is heading through Mount Forest at 12:30pm.
