Terry Fox events being held around the area
September 9, 2024, 10:04 am
Ryan Kiedrowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
It was a dream as big as our country when a young Terry Fox decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research back in 1980. Fox lost his leg to osteogenic sarcoma at age 18 and it was during his 16 months of treatment that the Marathon of Hope idea came to mind, in response to the suffering he saw firsthand in cancer wards. Dipping his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean on April 12, 1980, Fox launched the campaign with the goal of collecting one dollar from every Canadian.
While Fox did reach that monetary goal, his Marathon of Hope was cut short on Sept. 1, 1980 when after running 5,373 km from east to west, he was forced to stop the cross-country trek. Cancer had returned, this time targeting the young man’s lungs and eventually led to Fox’s death the following June.
Since that time, the Terry Fox Run has been held every year since and has raised over $850 million—impacting the lives of millions of Canadians.
“I wanted to set the example that would never be forgotten,” Fox had said more than four decades ago, and he has certainly accomplished that ideal. His humility, tenacity, and drive have been the inspiration of countless individuals since. Fox often comes to mind when the subject of Canadian heroes occurs, and he was on the shortlist to appear on a redesign of the $5 bill (that project was halted effective May 6, 2023 for work on the new $20 featuring King Charles III to commence).
While the official Terry Fox Run happens on Sept. 15 this year, many local communities will be holding their events throughout the month. Here’s a few events happening in and around are throughout September:
Esterhazy High School will have their event on Thursday, Sept. 12
In Moosomin, MacLeod Elementary School students will be walking this Friday, Sept. 13.
Rocanville will be hosting their Terry Fox Walk/Run on Sept. 15, starting at 2 pm at the cross-country ski trails.
The Rocanville School is hosting their annual Terry Fox Walk on Sept. 19, initiated and hosted by the Wellness 10 class.
Maryfield School is hosting their event a little later in the month on Sept. 27. The whole community is welcome, and there’s a sweet treat at the end thanks to a donation of Dairy Queen mini blizzards!
Wawota Parkland School as well as Whitewood School are also hosting their walks on the 27th.
