Corn maze a tribute to Terry Fox
CHILLIWACK — A Chilliwack corn maze is honouring the 35th anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope by dedicating this year’s maze design to his image.
The Chilliwack Corn Maze and Pumpkin Farm will also be donating all of its proceeds on Saturday to the Terry Fox Foundation.
“I really do believe Terry Fox is one of our Canadian heroes, and we are just so lucky to have [Terry’s younger brother] Darrell and the Fox family living in Chilliwack and I think it’s a great tribute,” said Michelle Klim of Fox’s surviving family.
The folks behind the 12-acre maze began discussing plans for a possible tribute to Fox a couple of years ago, in anticipation of the 1980 marathon’s 35th anniversary this year.
“How it came about was my twins had watched the Terry Fox movie at school, and then I ran into Darrell and started talking to him,” Klim said.
“I said, ‘When is the anniversary for the marathon?’ He said, ‘It’s actually in two years.’
“‘Well,’ I said, ‘In two years, I have a great idea.’ ”
Kim said she stayed in touch with Darrell Fox to ensure the family was on board with the tribute. Then last spring, plans started to solidify as the family and the maze operators went over various photos of Fox to decide on a design.
The result is a maze in the shape of Terry Fox running, with an outline of Canada behind him.
“So Darrell’s response — I was right with him today when he went up [in the helicopter] — he said there were no words to express,” Klim said.
“He never thought he would see his brother’s name written so large from the sky. So I was really excited after I heard him say that.”
On Saturday, admission to the maze and the farm’s other activities will be by donation, and all proceeds from the day will go directly to the Terry Fox Foundation.
“They are a very small organization for the amount of fundraising they do,” said Klim. “It’s amazing.”
The corn maze opened in mid-August and will remain open until Oct. 31.
For information, visit chilliwackcornmaze.com.