Terry Fox Run remains dear to the heart of participants
Around 300 participants gathered Sunday to honour the memory of Terry Fox during the 37th annual Terry Fox Run.
In 1977, when Fox was just 18 years old, he had his right leg amputated just above the knee following his cancer diagnosis.
Despite the amputation, Fox began his journey across Canada for his Marathon of Hope. He ran for 143 days and travelled over 5,000 kilometres to help raise funds and awareness for cancer research.
On Sunday, residents gathered at Henderson Lake as they took part in a two-, five-, or 10-kilometre walk, run or bike around the lake.
“Terry Fox is probably the greatest Canadian hero,” said participant Mary Newbert. “He was a young man that wanted the rest of the world to live without cancer, so when he started the Marathon of Hope, that’s was his goal was.”
The run is something Newbert holds near and dear to her heart. “My mom died of breast cancer when she was only 49 years old and she didn’t have the same options as we do now.”
But there were options for Newbert, who later survived her own battle with breast cancer.
“My dream is to pay it forward anyway I can to help people who have cancer,” she said. “We still have to fundraise because there’s is a cure, we just have to get there.”
There was no mandatory entry fee to participate in the Terry Fox Run, however, runners were encouraged to help raise funds for the Terry Fox Foundation and often, many do.
For the past 37 years, Canadians have carried on his legacy and over $715 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research.
That number is expected to rise as Canadians took part in runs across the country and the majority of the funds raised — 82 cents per dollar — will go directly into funding cancer research.
“Research to help us cure this cancer; this deadly disease that has continued to grow,” said Evelyn Moman, chair of Lethbridge Terry Fox Run. “Hopefully, my next generation — my grandchildren — won’t have to face this disease as fierce as some of my peers have and some of my family.”
“I know the importance of research and what cancer does to families. Four years ago, my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer,” said Moman as she fought back tears. “He was quite ill, so with the research and the fact that they have come so far with modern technology … it saved his life.”
Moman was also quick to praise Lethbridge for being a supportive community and she hopes the generations to come will continue to carry on the legacy.
“We were surrounded by people we didn’t even know when we began this journey — when he began this journey — it was really impressive.
“We need to pass the torch, this run is so important,” she said. “That’s why I’m doing it, I don’t want the next generation to have to do what we have gone through.”
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