By Darren Lum
Published Sept. 14 2017
Emotions and spirits will be high for this coming Terry Fox Run in Minden on Sunday Sept. 17 at the Minden Community Centre located at 55 Parkside Street.
Hundreds are expected to run walk ride or roll to not just raise important money for cancer research but to remember loved ones who have survived and died from cancer and to honour the legacy of Canadian hero Terry Fox.
Fox lost his leg to cancer close to 40 years ago at 18. While receiving treatment he was inspired by the children around him with cancer. After reading about an amputee running he came up with the idea to run across the nation and believed he could raise a dollar for every person in Canada to contribute to cancer research for a cure.
He ran 5373.6 kilometres averaging a marathon a day or some 42 kilometres through six provinces. His run ended in Thunder Bay after his health forced him to stop. The 21-year-old might have died on June 28 1981 ending his Marathon of Hope to run coast-to-coast of Canada but he became the symbol for strength and hope to Canada and the world.
There has been more than $750 million raised for cancer research through these events inspired by Fox’s initial Marathon of Hope.
It seems virtually everyone is touched by cancer whether directly through a family member or a friend. Long-time organizer Diane Peacock knows all too well about loss and the importance of the run.
“The Terry Fox Run is important to me because I have lost a lot of family and friends to cancer and I want to make a difference and help raise funds to find a cure … my great niece was diagnosed at nine months old and had her kidney removed in 2008. She is now nine years cancer free. I believe in what the [Terry Fox] Foundation stands for and the fact that they send 82 cents from every dollar to research is very important. I want to know that the money I donate is going to help find a cure and not going to pay some big executives salary” she wrote in an email.
Peacock continues to be the driving force behind the Minden event with her unwavering commitment.
She said the public should come to not only raise important funds for cancer but to recognize the survivors.
Before the official start to the run at 9:30 a.m. there will be 30 cancer survivors known as Terry’s Team Members who will march together in solidarity on the survivor’s stroll wearing red Terry Fox T-shirts. This event is dedicated to Highlands’ residents Gary Chapman Rick Mansfield and Dolores McGregor who died from cancer.
Registration for the event is at 9 a.m. on Sunday. There are four distances available: one kilometre two kilometres five kilometres and 10. Participants may also ride their bicycles skate on rollerblades wheelchair and push a stroller.
There isn’t any particular fundraising goal except to add to the overall contribution to the Terry Fox Foundation Peacock wrote. Last year Minden raised $13060 and in 23 years the community has raised more than $261000.
The silent auction returns and includes more than 60 items. Notable donations came from Haliburton County’s Matt Duchene who plays for the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche Ian Thompson of A Finer Finish and the Ottawa Senators Charitable Foundation which sent a Dion Phaneuf autographed baseball cap. The silent auction starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 12:15. New this year is the availability to make mobile payments with Visa Mastercard and American Express. There will be entertainment and a barbecue which will start at 10 a.m.
Volunteers are always welcome to come and help out she wrote.
“We can always find a job for them. I would really love to see more high school students step forward. They need volunteer hours to graduate and we give four to five hours depending on when they start. It isn’t hard work and it is very rewarding knowing that you have helped a great cause. They can contact me if they are interested” she wrote.
For more questions call 705 286 4914 email mindenterryfoxrun@interhop.net.
