Emily Plihal
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Cancer survivors, family members, community members, cancer patients, and visitors are all asked to rally together later this month to raise funds for the Terry Fox Foundation.
The annual Terry Fox will be held starting at the McLennan Fitness Gym at Providence School at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 15. Organizer Kristen Blanchette hopes that people will come out to run, walk, cycle, or wheelchair in support of an important cause.
“I want to keep Terry Fox’s legacy alive,” she explains.
“I also like that the Terry Fox Foundation continues to operate with no corporate sponsors, all Terry Fox Runs around the World are volunteer driven, Terry Fox Runs are non-competitive and inclusive.”
Blanchette says all proceeds go to the Terry Fox Foundation which focuses on cancer research.
She adds organizing the run is a family tradition.
“My dad organized the run for many years, and I am happy to continue to organize it so that my kids see the importance and value of volunteering,” Blanchette exclaims.
“They both have been in attendance since they were born. I also have family and friends who have been diagnosed with cancer and it is something I can do to show my support for their battle.”
This year’s theme is No Matter What, and Blanchette hopes people come out in droves to participate, no matter what.
“Now with the schools doing Terry Fox Runs we have less participants, but we are happy to see our usual participants and any new faces,” she says.
“Also, even though it is nice to come together as a community, if anyone would like to participate but cannot on the day of the event they can still register online to participate and donate.”
Blanchette says her motivation to continue organizing Terry Fox Runs often comes from the emails she receives noting how donations help cancer patients.
“I want people in our community who have been diagnosed with cancer to know we support them,” she notes.
“And even though we are a small community we have raised $74,522.42 in the last 40 years.”
One loop of the run is 3-km and Blanchette says they encourage participants to do three loops, but it is up to them how many they want to complete.
She says this is the 41st Terry Fox Run held in McLennan.
If you would like to register or donate to the McLennan run, please visit https://run.terryfox.ca/55512.