The 42nd Annual Terry Fox Run held in Water Valley on Sunday, Sept. 18 was a wonderful day with 54 friends, family, volunteers and several new participants coming together to raise over $9,000 in donations and T-shirt sales.
We do not have all the results from online donations yet. The weather was perfect for a walk, run or ride to catch up after two years of doing our run virtually.
Many of our faithful followers have been doing the run since it started in the early years -- about 1984 in Water Valley.
We have a chart to show our progress since 1989 and to last year we have raised $209,381. Our best year so far before the pandemic was in 2019 when we raised over $18,000, yet we still brought in $9,175 in 2020 and $7,945 last year. Our community always comes through.
This year, families came from Calgary, Airdrie, Innisfail, Sundre, and friends from Alix came with family from B.C. and a couple from Sidney, Australia.
Of course our local Cremona and Water Valley friends were there to complete our family traditions of coming together for Terry’s legacy. Water Valley first responders patrolled the route again to slow traffic during the run.
Our walk, run or ride took on our western flavour as a local couple rode their mules. The funny story about that was, Annette, phoned to ask if it would be all right to ride the mules in our run but she did not get hold of me, instead it was someone in the Calgary office. Apparently, there was a long pause on the phone and the lady finally said, “I’m not sure you can ride them in the Calgary run.”
After the run we enjoyed refreshments and camaraderie before some were heading off to finish harvesting and gardening while the sun shines.
The Terry Fox Foundation has raised more than $850 million over the years and has funded 1,300 innovative cancer research projects, bringing hope and health to millions of Canadians.
The research and funds benefits those suffering with all kinds of cancer and is volunteer run to keep costs of administration to a minimum.
We appreciate our local sponsors who always step up to see the run be a success.
For stories on research and what the Terry Fox Foundation is about check out www.terryfox.org. If you missed getting a donation done, you are welcome to do so online at http://run.terryfox.ca/watervalley and our call letters are AB1188.
Mary Thomson is the Water Vallet Terry Fox Run organizer.
