Despite having to go “One Day Your Way” and virtual, the 40th anniversary Terry Fox Run for cancer research brought in $8,375 so far!
Our plans to celebrate were held back due to the Covid 19 restrictions and everyone missed the comradery that our past runs have become so well known for.
Last year was our best year ever at $18,095 to bring our totals since 1989 to an amazing total of $192,261.
My hope was to break the $200,000 this year and we have now thanks to our generous and caring community.
Some of our regular family units start collecting ahead of the run and so we arranged to meet and I collected some of their pledge forms outside in my mask and sanitizer ready on a beautiful fall day, Sunday.
Jill Fisher and friends had done a special event the day before and came with their donations then did the regular 10 kilometre (km) route again to celebrate in Terry’s honour.
In all 21 participants and donors stopped by to make their personal donations or walk and bike the favourite route who had registered online with many remembering past runs when we had snow or rain.
Our daughter Angela and family did their walk in Calgary while son-in-law Mike and grandson Calvin did a 50 km bike ride.
I would love to have your stories and pictures for our poster board I do each year!
Since 1980 the Terry Fox Run has raised over $800 million for cancer research for all types of cancers.
Terry ended his marathon on Sept. 1, 1980 near Thunder Bay when the cancer had spread to his lungs.
He said “Even though I’m not running anymore, people should go ahead and try to do their own thing.”
Could he have ever imagined how his dream has carried on for 40 years and his name is known all over the world?
Young people who were not born in 1980 now carry on his legacy and he has become a national hero as our schools have taken up their own runs.
The Terry Fox Foundation has continued to honour his wishes that the run remain volunteer-based and today is one of the most cost efficient charities giving 84 cents of every dollar raised for cancer research.
If you missed the day, please remember the foundation accepts donations all year and it is never too late and all donations are greatly appreciated online at www.terryfox.org.
Or if you received a pledge form in the mail you can mail it directly to the Terry Fox Foundation.
Thanks to everyone who participated in making this another year to keep our Terry Fox Run going.
Mary Thomson,
Water Valley Terry Fox Run volunteer organizer
