Terry Fox Run gets better with age — and with better weather
By The Nelson Daily Sports
It’s an event that doesn’t get old — the annual Terry Fox Run.
And Sunday in the Heritage City, like so many other cities, towns and communities across Canada, the tradition continues as Nelsonites flock to Lakeside Park for the annual run to fight cancer.
“I think the reason it’s lasted for so long is the impact Terry (Fox) had on people,” said Nelson run coordinator Mike Hurley.
The Nelson Terry Fox run has a new start location — the Tyler Lake Fieldhouse between the Lakeside Soccer Pitch and Slopitch Diamonds.
The day begins with registration at 9 a.m. Closer to 9:30 a.m. runners, walkers, joggers, bikers and, or, skateboarders, will be put through a brief warm-up to help get ready for the one, three, five or 10 kilometer run.
In 2010 the race was a tremendous success, in spite of the dreary, rainy day. Close to 250 participants helped raise $6000 for cancer research.
Since the Terry Fox Run started, the fundraiser has raised close to $500 Million for cancer research.
“I think reason the Terry Fox Run carries on is even children can connect with the imagery of Terry Fox, of what he stood for,” Hurley explained.
The 2011 edition of the Nelson Terry Fox Run has another twist, other than the new start/finish location. The Nelson Dragonboat team is going to bring family and friends to help make the event the best ever.
“They just called me and said they wanted to be part of the run,” said Hurley, many of the Dragonboat team are cancer survivors.
“So it’s really going to be exciting this year to have them be part of the run.”
Of course the Terry Fox story has been well documented in books and movies.
With one leg having been amputated, Fox embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research.
Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi), and ultimately cost him his life, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy.
The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research.
This year is the first time since the runs inception that Terry’s mother Betty Fox will not be a part of the run.
Betty Fox passed away earlier this year.
The matriarch who carried on her son Terry’s dream of raising funds to fight cancer, died in June.
In Castlegar, the run begins at 8:30 a.m. from the Community Complex. Registration is at 8 a.m.
In Trail, registration is at 9 a.m. with the run going at 10 a.m. The run goes from Gyro Park on Charles Lakes Dr, starting line at Park Drive.
In Grand Forks, the run starts fromoutside Aquatic Centre main entrance at the Grand Forks Rec Centre. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. with the run beginning at 10 a.m.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
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