SUNDRE – The indomitable spirit of Terry Fox who more than 40 years ago started the now-world renowned Marathon of Hope driven by the dream of a world free of cancer, remains alive and well here in town.
The annual community Terry Fox Run was held on Sunday, Sept. 17 in Sundre, followed several days later on Thursday, Sept. 21 by the local schools’ run.
“We were really great on turnout this year with around 30 participants,” said Annalise Fricker, the community run’s organizer, adding a little more than $2,200 was raised this year.
“It was an amazing turnout on a beautiful day,” said Fricker.
Although that total was a bit lower than amounts raised in previous years, she said the schools also provide an additional boost to support the Terry Fox Foundation’s ongoing efforts to raise funds for cancer research.
And overall, the community run – which her family has led the charge on since 1983 – has over the years since raised more than $71,000, she said.
“I am so grateful for all of you that show up each year to walk, bike, and run,” she told those who gathered at the base of Snake Hill to take part this year.
Amy Jesse, a Sundre High School teacher who provides guidance to the leadership class that this year was in charge of fundraising, said late last week a final total was not immediately available as there was one more related fundraiser that wraps up later this week.
“The leadership students encouraged donations and awareness by setting a donation goal of $600 and with it, a school prize,” Jesse told the Albertan.
That prize, she added, was for chemistry and physics teacher Kris Kowaliuk to end up duct taped to the gym wall for the Terry Fox assembly’s duration.
Setting up donation collection buckets in classrooms along with a new option this year to donate online, the leadership class provided regular updates on how close they were to reaching the goal, she said.
Although the high school’s Terry Fox fundraising efforts continue into this week, she said the $600 goal had as of last week when students participated in the annual run already been surpassed, she said.
“So, Mr. K spent the assembly on the gym wall.”
Above and beyond the leadership class’s fundraising efforts, teacher Kevin Challoner provides additional incentive by issuing a school-wide running challenge to all of the students.
“If he beats the student who took the challenge, the student has to donate $5 to Terry Fox Foundation,” she said.
But should the student win, they have the choice of either receiving $5 from Challoner or instead having the teacher double that amount as a $10 donation to the foundation, she said.
“That’s always a big contributor,” she said.
Tanya Braybrook, River Valley School’s vice-principal, said students there collectively raised a little more than $1,100.
