It was a perfect day for run, walk or cycle in Olds on Sunday. There were 43 who laced up their sneakers for the 31st Terry Fox Run, and raised more than $4,500 for the cause. That's 13 more than 2010, which was spoiled by frigid temperatures, wind and rain.
Terry Fox's journey was never deterred by the whims of Mother Nature. He ran a marathon a day in the best and worst weather Canada can offer. His entourage was small, and his Ford Econoline van must have seemed even smaller.
His now-archaic-looking prosthesis affected an awkward gait which left his stump raw and inflamed. We know how his story ended. He died by the same disease he tried to fell.
Terry's legacy, however, continues to grow: 800 runs in 50 countries, and more than $500 million raised, one step at a time, for cancer research. His mother Betty, responsible in large part for the Terry Fox Foundation's growth and success, died earlier this year. Her husband Rolly has vowed to continue the legacy.
I offer a heart-felt thanks to those who participated and donated. There's a 50/50 chance you'll receive a cancer diagnosis in your lifetime. Research is improving the odds, or at least the odds of survival.
Olds Albertan reporter Johnnie Bachusky, Canada's Worst Handyman 2009, also deserves credit. Johnnie smokes and hasn't donned his sneakers for years. He did, however, join his wife Darlis in Olds on Sunday, and finished the five-kilometre route. He was so inspired, he's considering resurrecting a fitness regime.
To date, the total from our local schools hasn't been tallied. All totalled, the combined effort should raise a remarkable $10,000. See you next year.
