OLDS — Registration for the 2020 Terry Fox Run in Olds is now open, says organizer Noel D’Arcy.
This year, the event, scheduled for Sept. 20, will be a little different. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be a virtual run only.
Participants can run, walk or cycle any time they like between 6 a.m. and midnight or so on that day, adhering to social distancing rules as advocated by Health Canada. They can run any route they choose, or they can draw up one for themselves.
Participants are also urged to upload pictures of themselves or their team participating in the event.
This year is especially poignant because it’s the 40th anniversary of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope.
Fox, who had lost a leg due to cancer, dipped his toe in the Atlantic Ocean in Newfoundland in April 1980. His goal was to run across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research.
He ran a marathon a day, suffering excruciating pain as the stump of his amputated leg rubbed on his artificial leg but finally had to stop in northern Ontario as his cancer had returned with a vengeance.
Fox passed away in June 1981. The first Terry Fox Run, carrying on his goal to raise awareness and money for cancer research, was held that fall.
“They’re going to try to keep the event alive and we’re hoping to keep it alive here in town,” D’Arcy said in an interview.
“It’s going to happen all across Canada and we’re going to play by the rule book and we’re going to get out and run, but just not in large groups, like we used to.”
A virtual Hike For Hospice, held by the Olds and District Hospice Society earlier this month actually raised more money than their traditional hike outdoors did last year. So D’Arcy is hopeful the virtual Terry Fox Run will do well too.
“There are some pros with doing a virtual run. You can do it any time you want throughout that day,” he said.
“I mean, in the past, when you were regimented to be there at 11 a.m. for the start time, now you can start at six in the morning or you can do it at midnight if you want, so there’s a lot more flexibility.”
Unfortunately, because this year’s run is online only, organizers won’t be holding the traditional barbecue as part of the effort to follow Health Canada pandemic guidelines.
D’Arcy is a bit disappointed about that because he says socialization is probably as big a part of the Terry Fox Run as the running or walking and the fundraising is.
“But just to keep ourselves and keep everybody healthy, we’re playing by the rule book and hopefully next year that rule book will look a little different,” he said.
Those interested in registering for the 2020 Terry Fox Virtual Run can do so by going to terryfox.org, click on the prompt to register for the run and search for the run in Olds.
They can also visit the Olds Fire Department’s Terry Fox Run Facebook page for more information.
