Terry Fox had a dream. He believed that cancer could be beaten. He believed that if every Canadian joined in that dream and donated $1 toward cancer research, a cure would be found.
I invite you to join in that ongoing dream Sunday, Sept. 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Sundre High School. Please come out to support the dream, the spirit of those battling cancer, the survivors we admire and are inspired by, and the dream that we can all live without fear of the big "C" word.
If you come out to walk, run, cycle, push a stroller or wheelchair, donate what you can, volunteer and visit, you will gain much from the donation of your time. You will get to spend time talking and hearing about inspiring stories of life, surviving, loving, passing, memories shared and honoured, and you will be part of a dream that is in its 34th year. The Terry Fox story inspires people in 28 countries around the world to donate time, and over $650 million since 1980, to that dream.
If you decide to be part of the Terry Fox dream you will discover what I have seen each year. There are heroes among us. In our community there are stories of hope and inspiration, optimism, and personal strength. Some of those heroes are survivors who are battling cancer. Some survivors continue their battle for a lifetime after a diagnosis and treatment. Cancer touches each of us, sometimes personally and sometimes through our families and our friendships. When we share the stories of those we've lost, we honour their struggle, their memories and the inspiration they left us with. Please come out and dedicate your run this year to someone you admire.
We are changing it up a little this year. I need a couple of flag- bearer volunteers to carry a Terry Fox flag on a changed route through town. I need a couple of volunteers who can help with registrations and I need a few people to volunteer for directing people on the route. If anyone is interested in bringing a barbecue we could even have a community picnic for the event. Please call me at home at 403-638-3535 if you can help out.
Terry Fox is my hero. His is such a worldwide recognizable name -- and story. He said: "The thing about heroes is they don't see themselves that way." Terry Fox would be 56 years old if he were with us today. His Marathon of Hope began when he dipped his artificial leg in the St. John's harbour April 12, 1980. He was forced to stop his run outside of Thunder Bay after running 5,372 kilometres -- an average of a 42-km marathon a day. His was a simple dream: cancer can be beaten. He believed that with research, cures would be found and the suffering would stop for all those afflicted with cancer. His Marathon of Hope was for others and his spirit continues each and every year in communities like ours around the world.
This will be the 32nd consecutive Sundre Terry Fox Run. Terry's dream was that $1 from every Canadian could be raised to fund research that could cure cancers. I invite you to continue Terry Fox's dream by fundraising and participating in the event this year.
Register at Sundre High School at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 and join with others who share personal stories, as well as the stories of courageous survivors. You can run, walk, cycle, rollerblade, push a stroller or a wheelchair -- just come out and continue the dream -- cancer can be beaten.
You can also text to donate by texting “terry fox” (without the quotes) to 45678 to donate $5.
Please contact Terry Leslie at 403-638-3535 if you have any questions. Let's make this the best Sundre turnout ever.
