Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
All cancer survivors, family members, community members, cancer patients, and visitors will be joining forces next month to raise funds for the Terry Fox Foundation.
The annual Terry Fox Run will be held at the McLennan Fitness Gym at Providence School at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 14. Organizer Kristen Blanchette hopes that people will come out to run, walk, cycle, or wheelchair in support of an important cause.
“This year’s theme is Finish It,” says Blanchette.
“I organize this run every year because I think it’s important to keep Terry’s legacy alive and to show support for those fighting or those who have fought cancer.”
The annual Terry Fox Run has become a fall tradition in Canada, with more than 650 communities of all sizes fundraising for cancer research. There are many ways to get involved in the Terry Fox Run and Blanchette says even if you cannot participate, sponsoring a team or an individual can be very rewarding.
“Each ‘lap’ is about 3 km so if someone completed all three laps they will have done 9 km,” says Blanchette.
“But people are welcome to do one lap, two laps, three laps, they can even register and walk, run, ride at home.”
Terry Fox was an 18-year-old from Port Coquitlam, B.C. who lost his life to cancer in the early 1980s. His passion, drive, and personal experience living with cancer led him to realize that more money was needed for cancer research. Fox trained and planned to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. Fox’s efforts inspired Canadians five decades ago, and to this day his legacy is still revered and respected through annual runs.
Fox managed to run 5,373 km across the country, before having to end his run due to cancer taking over his lungs.
Blanchette says it is vital to keep Fox’s legacy alive and try to help raise more money for cancer research, with the goal of discovering a cure for the disease.
“I know that we are small drop in the bucket but we can still help,” says Blanchette of the Smoky River Region.
“Since the run began our community has raised over $75,000.”
Blanchette urges anyone able to register to run this year. The entire course is on pavement, so any method of participation is welcome.
“Take a moment in the day to think of those who are battling or have battle cancer and keep Terry Fox’s legacy alive,” she says.
“The Terry Fox foundation is unlike many others that nearly all of the money raised goes directly to cancer research.
“I have family members who have battled and are still fighting cancer,” she adds.
Blanchette says this is the 45th annual Terry Fox Run in the country.
“The schools usually do the Terry Fox run at school,” she says. “I think it’s really awesome that the schools are having students continue the run to make sure Terry’s dream stays alive and then students get to know who Terry was.”
To participate, you can please register in person or online at https://run.terryfox.ca/92939