MOOSE JAW — The Terry Fox Run season has begun, because just over a month from now, the 45th annual event will occur in hundreds of locations across Canada, including 35 runs planned in Saskatchewan.
This year’s event takes place on Sunday, Sept. 14.
In Moose Jaw, the event occurs in Wakamow Valley at the Oval, with registration happening at 10:30 a.m. and the run/walk starting at 11 a.m.
To register, visit https://terryfox.org/terry-fox-run.
Fox, who was born on July 28, 1958, in Winnipeg, was 22 years old when he began his Marathon of Hope on April 12, 1980, intending to raise $1 for every Canadian alive. He made it halfway across Canada — he had run 5,373 kilometres, or a marathon a day — before stopping in Thunder Bay, Ont., on Sept. 1, after the cancer spread to his lungs.
The Canadian icon later died on June 28, 1981.
“I’ve said to people before that I’m going to do my very best to make it, I’m not going to give up … ,” Terry told the media back then. “There can be no reason for me to stop. No matter what pain I suffer, it is nothing compared to the pain of those who have cancer, of those who endure treatment.”
Terry also told reporters, “It took cancer to realize that being self-centred is not the way to live. The answer is to try and help others.”
The Terry Fox Foundation says the beginning of August is the perfect time to kick-start the annual campaign to raise money for cancer research.
Opportunities are available for more Terry Fox Runs and fundraisers in communities of all sizes, while six weeks is plenty of time to collect donations to support Terry’s dream of a world without cancer, the organization said.
“Join an existing walk, plan your own, or find another activity to honour Terry’s drive and vision. You could organize a team to participate in an established Run, or host a fundraiser at your place of work, or start your own Terry Fox Run,” it stated.
Special fundraising events for the foundation are always welcome and do not have to be held on Terry Fox Run Day, as Terry had an innovative idea to draw attention to his cause and others could copy his approach or create their own, the foundation said.
Volunteers plan all fundraising activities, while others who are passionate about finding ways to end cancer are always needed, the organization continued. Residents can make the 45th anniversary of the Terry Fox Run spectacular by becoming involved.
Contact the Terry Fox Foundation at [email protected] to become involved in any capacity or visit terryfox.org/volunteer for an overview of opportunities.
Reflecting on the hundreds of volunteers who make each Run happen, Fred Fox, Terry Fox’s older brother, says, “Terry would be humbled by the many, many people that give of their time to volunteer and allow others the opportunity to participate in a Terry Fox Run and fundraise in his name.
“During the Marathon of Hope, Terry said, ‘Even if I don’t finish, we need others to continue. It’s got to keep going.’ I don’t think even he envisioned the thousands of people that are working hard to finish it,” Fred added.
Fred will be thinking about his brother during the next six weeks as he prepares for many special events and activities leading up to the 45th Terry Fox Run, the foundation added. Local volunteers are doing the same, as will be witnessed in the weeks ahead.
Since 1980, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised more than $850 million for cancer research in Canada, with the goal of bringing hope and health to millions of Canadians.
For more information, visit https://terryfox.org.
