Montreal group runs for Fox
Members of the Terry Fox family in Lethbridge held a public meet and greet to support a group of six dedicated runners at Coulee Brew Co. on Saturday in their efforts to raise money for cancer research.
The Montreal Runners, as they are known, have run relay-style, (each running 30 kilometres each day and trading off in turns), all the way from Quebec, and stopped for lunch in Lethbridge Saturday on their way to British Columbia. Their goal is to raise $50,000 in funds for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Present for the Fox family at Coulee Brew Co. was longtime Lethbridge resident Terry Fox senior (the uncle after whom the Canadian legend was named) and three generations of his extended family. Bobbie Fox spoke to the Herald on behalf of the Fox family.
“We wanted to welcome the Montreal Runners to Lethbridge as they pass on their way,” said Fox. “These are six wonderful, young men who have decided to run from Montreal to Vancouver ... With Terry, we know we have an amazing legacy, and it is very close to all of our hearts. My father-in-law himself is actually a two-time cancer survivor, and he wouldn’t have survived if it hadn’t been for the work Terry had started all the years ago on his Marathon of Hope.”
Montreal Runners team member Akshay Grover said he was grateful for the public show of support shown his team by the Fox family and the warm hospitality they received in Lethbridge.
“We wanted to use our passion for long-distance running for a cause that is greater than ourselves,” he said. “It is because of Terry that distance running has been forever associated in Canada with cancer research.
“It’s unreal, and really cool, to meet Fred Fox at the start of our journey in Montreal, and meeting Terry’s uncle here today. It really shows us that Terry Fox was an everyday Canadian. He was a kid who decided to do something. That was what Terry was all about, Canadians helping Canadians.”
To donate to the Montreal Runners’ efforts those interested can visit their website at www.runtovancouver.com. The Lethbridge Terry Fox Run takes place on Sept. 16 at Henderson Lake.