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SRE Sports: Terry Fox Run in McLennan this Sunday
Kevin Laliberte
Express Staff
Residents from throughout the Smoky River region are encouraged to show their support for cancer research by participating in this Sunday's annual Terry Fox Run fundraiser.
Coordinator Francis Lessard invites adults and children of all ages to take part in this year's fundraising effort.
“The run does two things, firstly it creates awareness and secondly it’s a continuation of what Terry set out to do. The fight isn’t over yet by any means. There’s still a long way to go, but together we are helping to make a big difference,” he says.
This year’s Terry Fox Run is once again taking place in McLennan, beginning at 1 p.m. from the Kimiwan Lake Bird Walk.
"We encourage everyone in the region to pledge their support for finding an eventual cure for cancer by running, in-line skating, walking or cycling on Sept. 16," Lessard adds.
Terry was an 18-year-old first-year Kinesiology student at Simon Fraser University and a member of the SFU junior varsity basketball team in 1977 when he was diagnosed with bone cancer.
It resulted in the amputation of his right leg six inches above the knee.
After undergoing chemotherapy and seeing other people, particularly children, suffering with cancer, Terry decided that he wanted to make a difference in the world.
He wanted to do something to help find a cure for cancer and set out on a coast-to-coast marathon between 1980 to 1981 (recognized as the Marathon of Hope) to help raise funds and awareness for cancer research.
And while his dream of reaching the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean was never fully realized, he did manage to leave behind a legacy which is every bit as important today as it was back in 1981.
Since Terry's death in 1981 the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $600-million worldwide to support cancer reseach.
Local residents interested in participating in this year's local run can pick up pledge sheets at the Kimiwan Lake Interpretive Centre on the day of the event.
They can also be picked up at local ATB Financial banks or on-line at www.terryfox.org.
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