Hundreds of thousands of people across Canada are expected to participate in the annual Terry Fox Run on Sunday, September 17, a fundraising event taking place in over 700 communities that continue to embody the indomitable spirit of Terry Fox.
“In a year where we have enjoyed celebrating our country’s 150th birthday, it’s been great to hear so many Canadians say that participating in the Terry Fox Run in an important part of the celebration,” said Terry’s older brother Fred Fox.
The local Terry Fox Run committee has a great event planned for Weyburn, which will be held in River Park on Sunday, September 17. “We hope to have runners, walkers and rollers participate in this year’s Terry Fox Run. The Run will take place at River Park. Registration starts at noon and the run itself will get underway at 1 p.m., and we’ve planned some fun entertainment along the run route. We’ll have some Terry Fox information posted under the gazebo at River Park and a nutrition break set up for participants after the run is complete. It will be an enjoyable and rewarding afternoon for all who participate,” said Verna O’Neill, a representative of the Weyburn Terry Fox Run committee.
Cancer survivors are encouraged to get involved early and become part of ‘Terry’s Team’. Every cancer survivor that contacts the Regina Terry Fox office and participates in the Weyburn Run will receive a red Terry’s Team shirt. These red shirts can be worn at the run on September 17 to show their brave battle with cancer. “The Terry Fox Foundation will provide a free Terry’s Team t-shirt to cancer survivors so they can wear them on the Run day. It would be great to see red t-shirts on the Run route that day,” says O’Neill.
Participants can run or walk a three, six or 10-kilometre distance. The event will be held rain or shine. To get involved, O’Neill encourages people to visit the Terry Fox Run website at www.terryfoxrun.org. Once on the website, it’s a simple click to register for the Weyburn event, download a pledge sheet and start collecting donations.
Terry was just 18 when he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in his right leg. He was in his first year at Simon Fraser University studying kinesiology when he felt the pain in his knee. He had his leg amputated six inches above the knee and endured aggressive chemotherapy to eliminate remaining cancer cells. During his treatment, he witnessed daily reminders that two-thirds of cancer victims died of the disease. Instead of crushing his spirits, the sight of other patients suffering made him stronger and more compassionate. It was from this strength and compassion that the Marathon of Hope was born.
Since Terry ran in 1980, Canadians have raised over $750 million for cancer research. This money is invested into projects with the greatest potential impact for patients.
One such project is Multiple Myeloma Molecular Monitoring, underway in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
A team of researchers will work with more than 250 patients across Canada to advance the ability to characterize and monitor multiple myeloma in the blood and the bone marrow to better understand how current treatments work and develop new, more effective ones.
Hundreds of thousands of Terry Fox supporters, family and friends, will participate in a favourite fall tradition on Sunday, September 17 to ensure that cancer research continues to make a difference. From coast to coast, Canadians will be celebrating the power of the human spirit.
The Terry Fox Foundation is an international organization whose mission is to maintain the vision and principles of Terry Fox while raising money for cancer research through the annual Terry Fox Runs, School Runs and other fundraising initiatives. To date, over $750 million has been raised worldwide in Terry Fox’s name to fund the most promising and innovative research. The Terry Fox Foundation headquarters are located in Burnaby, B.C., and has offices in nine provinces.
