INNISFAIL - For almost 40 years the Terry Fox Run has been an annual event across Canada and here in Innisfail.
The 39th annual Community Terry Fox Run will be held at Centennial Park on Sept. 15, with registration at 12:30 p.m. and the run at 1 p.m.
“It’s always the second Sunday after the long (Labour Day) weekend,” said Patrick Gleason, organizer. “(It’s) because of what Terry did. He’s really, truly a Canadian hero.”
Despite the weather last year, the 2018 Terry Fox Run had about 65 people involved, noted Gleason, with about 15 volunteers helping out and about 50 participants who ran, walked or biked.
“It snowed, it rained, the wind was cold. It was not a good day,“ said Gleason. “But at the same time, our numbers were down but we still raised just under $9,000 dollars.
“We’re grouped with Alberta and the North West Territories (NWT) and between the different run sites in Alberta and NWT this year, the goal is to raise $714,000 dollars,” he added.
Gleason has been organizer of the Terry Fox Run for the past five years and said a big reason for the events continued success is thanks to the community support and participation, as well as some key partners, including Scotiabank and the Innisfail Lions Club.
This year the Innisfail Terry Fox Run is hoping to reach their goal of raising $10,000, said Gleason, adding he would love to see people involved in the event either through participation, volunteering or showing support.
“Even if people come out and just visit, make a little contribution and cheer on the people that are participating. I think that would be a great community event,” said Gleason, noting participants have a choice of completing five or 10 kilometre routes.
“We really want to make it a community event,” Gleason concluded.
For more information call Gleason at 403 358-1451 or visit www.terryfox.org
