The number of participants in this year's Sundre Terry Fox Run was 33% less than it was in 2010 but the runners, still moved by the legendary Canadian's courage and determination to beat cancer, managed to raise more money than the year before.
This year 10 citizens took part in the event, the 31st annual Terry Fox Run in the community. That was down from the 15 or so who participated the year before.
However, participants in this year's Sundre run raised $865, an increase of $90 over last year's final tally of $775.
“The dream continues. Cancer can be beaten,” said local coordinator Terry Leslie, who is the former principal of Olds' Deer Meadow School. He is currently on medical leave but plans on returning to the school as a Gr. 8 teacher.
Leslie said the drop of participants in this year's run does not discourage him and other organizers. He firmly believes the annual run will always be sustainable and important not only for the community but for the entire movement across the country.
He notes that last year the Terry Fox Foundation increased its donations from 15% to 30%, and that $30 million was raised for cancer research.
Leslie added that while fewer people came out this year many of the participants were new.
“The folks who came out have their own stories. They come out to honour them (cancer victims), and to honour the memory of the ones who passed away,” said Leslie, whose mother and father-in-law both passed away from cancer.
Leslie also notes there is considerable “action and attention” for the Terry Fox Foundation at the school level. At Deer Meadow, for example, he cites the many activities over the past year that raised $11,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation. He said staff and students organized a head shaving event, a spare change fundraiser and a barbeque.
“Terry Fox had a dream that if every Canadian donated one dollar that would go a long way to finding a cure,” said Leslie.
Meanwhile, Leslie has been involved in the Terry Fox Run for 29 years. He is absolutely certain that he will make the milestone of 30 next year in Sundre.
“By all means. It is so gratifying to do this,” said Leslie. “I get to hear the stories of cancer survivors. I get to hear the stories of hope. There are more than 200 types of cancer. It can be beaten.”
