On Sunday Sept. 18 hundreds of thousands of Terry Fox supporters will participate in the annual fundraising event that has raised millions for cancer research over the past 31 years.
Terry Fox inspired millions upon millions of people, not only when he attempted to run across Canada with an amputated leg to raise money for cancer research, but in the decades following his death as yearly runs are held across the country to keep his Marathon of Hope alive.
Locally there will be a Terry Fox Run at Rathtrevor Park in Parksville starting at 10 a.m.
Cathie MacKenzie with the Regional District of Nanaimo’s Parks and Recreation program said last year the event brought out 350 people and raised almost $10,000.
In 2010 Canadians donated $28 million to cancer research by participating in 800 Terry Fox Runs and 9,000 school events.
MacKenzie said she’s been involved with organizing the Parksville Terry Fox Run for the past six years and continues to be impressed with how Terry has inspired so many people to raise money for research into the disease.
“Year to year everyone has been touched by cancer in some way. It’s tough… but Terry’s message is one of hope,” said MacKenzie.
The Terry Fox run in Parksville is geared towards all ages and abilities and has a 10 a.m. start. You can run or walk a 3.3, five or 10K route. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at picnic shelter number two at Rathtrevor Park.
MacKenzie encourages participants to register ahead of time at www.terryfox.org in order to get pledges of support on line.
The National School run day will be held Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Two things that kept Terry going during the long difficult days in 1980: the dollars donated for research and the supporters who encouraged him along the way.
“Even if I don’t finish, we need others to continue. It’s going to keep going.”
— Terry Fox July 10, 1980.
reporter@pqbnews.com