Cancer can be beaten. Terry Fox had that dream and he set that dream alive when he dipped his artificial leg in St. John's harbour on April 12, 1980 to begin his Marathon of Hope.
Imagine being 19 years old with one leg and deciding to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. Really try to imagine how that thought came about, and how the best of the human spirit — through that young man — would set in motion the inspiration worldwide to raise more than $700 million over the past 35 years. Cancer can be beaten.
Please come out and join us this year and discover what I have been blessed to witness each and every year. There are unsung heroes among us. There are stories of hope, inspiration, optimism as well as personal strength — and there are also memories we honour. Some of those heroes are battling cancer, some are family members and friends and some are survivors. Cancer touches all of us, sometimes personally and often through our families and friends. When we share stories of those we support, or those we have lost, we honour their struggle, their memory, and the inspiration and life lessons they left with us. Cancer can be beaten.
So let's all do something about Terry's dream that cancer can be beaten. Our community raised a little more than $2,000 last year and I thank each and every one of you who contributed. I urge you to make this a better year. Terry Fox hoped every Canadian could donate $1 each year toward cancer research. We have about 3,000 people in Sundre and approximately another 3,500 rural residents who call Sundre home. To contribute right now, you can do any of the following: go to www.terryfox.org and make a donation; you can text “terryfox” (without the quotations) to 45678 to donate $5; you can challenge your co-workers to donate using a traditional pledge form available online or from me; you can challenge your Facebook friends to tell their stories of hope and make donations; and you are welcome to come join us at the Sundre High School on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 12:30 p.m.
I challenge all business owners to encourage your staff to become involved with their families. We can make this the best Sundre Terry Fox Run ever — if you are interested in getting involved.
The “run” is not a run unless you want it to be. You can run, walk, hike through town on a paved course, on Snake Hill or through the river bottom, ride a bike, push a stroller or a wheelchair, skateboard, in-line skate or just come and make a personal donation. There will be many course options for you to choose from. There will also be a memory wall for you to write on, or to dedicate your “run.” There will be water and cookies as well.
Please call me at home at 403-638-3535 if you have questions or if you want to help out this year.
Terry Leslie
Sundre Terry Fox Run coordinator
