Terry Fox Run takes place this Sunday

The annual Olds Terry Fox Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research via the Terry Fox Foundation takes place this Sunday, Sept. 17.

Participants can choose to run, walk or cycle a 10-kilometre or five-kilometre route through town. Both routes will start and finish at Centennial Park. A barbecue will begin at noon and last as long as participants come by.

Registration begins at 10 a.m. in Centennial Park and the marathon will begin at 11 a.m.

For about the third year, the Olds Fire Department is spearheading its organization.

The event is named after Terry Fox, a young cancer sufferer who ran across Canada in 1980 to raise funds for and awareness of the need for cancer research. After he died in 1981, the Marathon of Hope was started in his name to further his goal.

If necessary, pledge sheets and donations can even be dropped off just before the event begins. Organizers at the fire hall will also take pledge sheets and money up to two weeks after the event.

Noel D'arcy and Justin Andrew of the Olds Fire Department are the main organizers, along with about seven volunteers – mostly from the fire department as well – who will co-ordinate everything from registration to the barbecue.

D'arcy says the Marathon of Hope will occur rain or shine, although if it does rain, the barbecue will likely be moved into the park's gazebo.

D'arcy stresses the Marathon of Hope is not a competitive event. Anyone of any age is welcome to obtain a pledge sheet, raise money and participate.

Over the past few years, the number of participants and the amount of money raised have skyrocketed, D'arcy says.

He says in 2015, the first year he was involved in its organization, about 40 people participated in the local Marathon of Hope and raised about $1,500. Last year, about 65 people participated, raising more than $4,000.

In fact, D'arcy says, Terry Fox Foundation officials were so impressed with the Olds figures that they came to last year's event to find out why it's so successful, because turnouts and funds raised in other communities are declining.

He thinks he knows why the Olds event does so well.

"More and more people seem to be jumping on board. And I think the other reason the numbers are kinda high is we don't treat it as a competitive race," D'arcy says.

"It's more for fun and people are not intimidated by that. We want this to be more of a family event than competitive race."

He says organizers have worked hard to raise the profile of the event.

"We're really pounding the pavement with advertising and getting word out about it. If we get the word out to enough people, I think after that, it kind of gets around by word of mouth," D'arcy says.

"I spent a whole day driving around town putting up posters, going into local businesses, asking if I can put up posters on notice boards and stuff like that. In all the town buildings I've put up notices and we've had a social media campaign on Facebook as well to get the word out."

For those who've participated before, D'arcy says the routes won't change much -- maybe by "a street or two." They'll go mostly along local walking paths and through some residential areas, primarily south of Highway 27.

However, participants will have to cross Highway 27 at 65th Avenue. D'arcy says a volunteer will be there with a sign calling on traffic to stop. A water station will also be set up there.

D'arcy warns participants to be careful and watchful.

"We do not have streets closed down so there will be points in the run where there will be crossing roads needed," he says. "So look left and right and be careful. Don't treat it as if the road is closed because it's not."

D'arcy says those who haven't ever participated in the walk/run/cycle are in for a treat.

"If they haven't, this is an adventure to see the beautiful town we have here."