Jennifer Parker is busy trying to keep the memory of Terry Fox alive as she organizes the annual Terry Fox run for Sunday, September 15.
“We are desperately trying to revive the run here in the Elk Valley and get people excited to participate in the run and celebrate this Canadian legend,” said Parker. The event is organized entirely on donated funds so all fundraising goes to cancer research.
There is no entry fee for the run nor is there a minimum donation.
In 1980, Terry Fox, at the age of 21 ran across Canada in what was called the Marathon of Hope after his right leg was amputated due to bone cancer when he was 18. Fox ran an average marathon distance of 42 km every day for 143 days. He was forced to stop his run when the cancer spread to his lungs and he passed away in June 1981.
“You started it. We will not rest until your dream to find a cure for cancer is realized,” said Isador Sharp, founder of the Terry Fox Run, to Terry Fox in 1980. Sharp continued to fundraise in Terry’s name as Sharp had lost his son to cancer in 1977.
Since then the Terry Fox Foundation (TFF) has raised over $600 million in support of Terry’s cause. In 2012, TFF directed $27.5 million to its cancer research programs. The Terry Fox organization is independent, not associated with the Canadian Cancer Society or any other cancer fundraising organization and receives no corporate sponsorship.
Participants can walk or run the 2.5, five or 10 km route that starts at the Aquatic Centre at 11 a.m. People can register on linenow and start getting pledges.
This year’s goal is to increase the participation to keep the memory of Terry and his grand accomplishments alive. If you’d like to help, volunteers are needed for the registration table and set up on the day of the run. Contact Parker at jennifercparker@hotmail.com.