The skies cleared from an otherwise cloudy weekend on Sunday, Sept. 15 to allow the sun to shine for the annual community Terry Fox Run, which brought out some new faces alongside longtime supporters.
Event coordinator Annalise Fricker, whose father Terry Leslie carried the torch since the start in 1981 until 2017, said this year’s run was a great success and that numbers of people have increased over the past couple of years since she assumed the reins.
“There were lots of regulars and some new participants, which was incredible,” she said.
Several dozen people participated, with shy of $1,000 raised online, bringing this year’s total to about $2,000 to support cancer research, she said.
“I cannot wait to see what 2020 brings.”
Before the run, in which people were allowed to decide whether to cycle, walk or jog along a path of their choice on Snake Hill, the Red Deer River trails, or the town’s walking paths, Leslie expressed gratitude for the community’s continued support.
Major progress has been made towards beating cancer since Fox dipped his leg in the Atlantic Ocean as he embarked on his odyssey in 1980, paving the way for many breakthrough advancements, said Leslie. New treatments that have substantially increased survivability rates of cancers such as the type that took Fox’s life are made possible largely because of the effort people are willing to invest in raising funds for research, he said.
“Cancer is a disease that affects someone we know,” Fricker wrote by email following the event.
“This disease has the ability to take those we love the most away. I have lost two of my grandparents and my father-in-law to cancer. I believe that there will be a cure and I am incredibly proud to have taken part in this run and raised money for cancer research for my entire life.”
Her father has always hailed Fox as one of his personal heroes, a sentiment which she echoed. Fricker expressed appreciation for members of the community who “continually show up each year in support of cancer research and to keep Terry’s dream alive.”
Sundre High School and River Valley School students will be participating in their run this Thursday, Sept. 26.
