INNISFAIL – Eleven-year-old Amy Kinsella had a special heartfelt reason to be at Centennial Park on Sept. 17.
Kinsella was a committed participant in the five-kilometre route of this year's annual Terry Fox community run.
“I was here to help my stepdad because he had cancer for two years, and my grandpa and grandma and my stepmother's dad,” said Kinsella, an Innisfail Middle School student who is keenly aware of who Terry Fox was and what he started in 1980 with his Marathon of Hope. “He was a man who ran more than halfway across Canada with one leg. He was trying to help kids that had cancer, and to bring awareness to it.”
Along with 50 others Kinsella was out on a gorgeous late summer afternoon to not only raise more money for the Terry Fox Foundation, which has collected more than $730 million since 1981, but to keep the miracle of Terry Fox alive and continue to raise awareness about cancer and the ongoing research to find a cure.
The community event was almost cancelled three years ago but Patrick Gleason stepped up to rescue the event. Last Sunday he was pleased with the turnout of about 50 participants, but the future goal remains 100.
“We will just keep working at that goal,” said Gleason, who wants to make future events more than just a walk or a run. “We also want to make it a day when people can come and celebrate, sort of another holiday when citizens of Innisfail can get together and not only participate, but visit their neighbours.”
He said at least $5,000 was raised for the foundation, with more probably coming in the next week or two once final totals are counted. Last year the community run raised about $8,200.
In the meantime, the event received significant support from the community. The Innisfail Lions Club contributed $2,000, while the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion added another $250.
Scott Henderson, branch manager at Scotiabank, said his financial institution is providing its donation by matching the total dollar amount the bank helped to raise.
In the meantime, the event was also supported by many volunteers, including local musicians providing entertainment, and the business community through donations of food, coffee and soft drinks from Tim Hortons, Subway and Innisfail Pizza.
“We've got a great bank of volunteers and that has worked out really well,” said Gleason. “We've got involvement from Scotiabank and the Lions Club. The donations of food have been absolutely fantastic. It means everybody can have a little snack after the race and just get together and visit a bit. We are very grateful to those organizations.”
Amy Kinsella, an 11-year-old Innisfail Middle School student
"He was a man who ran more than halfway across Canada with one leg. He was trying to help kids that had cancer, and to bring awareness to it."
