From left at front Minden Hills Mayor Brent Devolin stands with Terry Fox Run committee members Ron Nesbitt Diane Peacock Jennifer Hughey and Caitlin Peacock at back from left Rozanne Hynard Dana Manning Jean Neville holding her two-year-old granddaughter Lily Neville Cindy O'Hanley and Steve Taylor. Absent committee members: Jeanne Anthon Pat Brezina Barb Millington Joan Taylor and Sue Smallwood. The group came together to raise the flag outside the Minden Hills Township office on Monday promoting the upcoming run set to take place Sunday Sept. 15 at the Minden Hills Community Centre located at 55 Parkside Street. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the run is at 9:30 a.m. People are welcome to run walk or roll. There are three distances: one-kilometre five-kilometres and 10-kilometres. /DARREN LUM Staff Minden hosts Terry Fox Run Sunday
By Darren Lum
Under a grey sky, just outside Thunder Bay, Terry Fox’s last day of running was on Sept. 1, 1980.
He later died from complications related to his cancer. He was just 22. Despite his death and the end of his run, it was the start of something greater.
The Marathon of Hope he started 143 days before, 5,373 kilometres away, in St. John’s, Nfld., continues today in thousands of communities around the world, including Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. More than $750 million has been raised in his name.
Minden will look to break a combined years’ total of $300,000 on Sunday, Sept. 15 at the Minden Hills Community Centre, located at 55 Parkside Street.
Long-time organizer Diane Peacock is stepping away from her role after 13 years to focus more on family after losing a cousin in June.
“It just made me realize that, hey, you know, family is important and take the time to enjoy it while you got it. So I just wanted to spend some more time with family and everything like that. It’s time to pass the torch on,” she said.
She said this Sunday will be bittersweet, as the event has been part of her life for 22 years and was inspired by her great-niece Victoria Peacock, who survived cancer after she was diagnosed with kidney cancer at nine months old.
She isn’t ruling out volunteering for the event completely, but will not lead. She said the ideal candidate should be organized, have the necessary time and want to contribute to the Terry Fox Foundation and to the community. Whoever comes forward will be supported well by capable committee members. Anyone interested can contact her at 705-286-4914 or email povertyhill1175@interhop.net.
Register for the run on Sunday, Sept. 15 starting at 9 a.m. The run starts at 9:30. The route, which includes a one-kilometre, five-kilometre and 10-kilometre options, can be run, walked and rolled, whether with strollers, bikes, and rollerblades.
The event also includes a silent auction from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and then live entertainment with Hank O’Reilly of Haliburton, and a barbecue at 10 a.m.
As in other years, the event will start with the march of the Terry’s Team Members, which is comprised of a group of community members who have survived cancer.
“That tugs at your heart when you see that,” Peacock said. “When you see the people that are survivors. You see what advancements Terry Fox Research Institute has made over the years.”
