THUNDER BAY - Nearly everyone across Canada has been affected by cancer in some way and for the past 37 years, countless people continue to lace up their shoes and follow in the footsteps of a Canadian hero in the hopes of one day curing the terrible disease.
On Sunday, the 37th Annual Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research was held in cities across Canada, including Thunder Bay, which saw more than 400 participants run or walk the five kilometre route around Boulevard Lake.
“His run ended just outside of Thunder Bay, so I think Thunder Bay always has a soft spot in their heart for Terry,” said Terry Fox Run chairperson, Don Morrison. “And everyone has a family member or a friend who has been touched by cancer, so I think that gets a lot of people out as well.”
Last year, the run in Thunder Bay raised more than $34,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation and Morrison expects to reach that total again this year.
And when it comes to Terry Fox, everyone is willing to step up and do whatever it takes. Before the race began, runners learned of six-year-old Avery, who raised $100 for the Terry Fox Run at her lemonade stand.
“That’s amazing,” Morrison said. “What that tells me is that even though it was 37 years ago that Terry did his run, if you have a six-year-old that has bought into the Terry Fox story, we’ll be doing this long after I’m gone. And that’s the best part of it.”
For Mary Beth and Megan Goetz, who have participated in the Terry Fox Run for the past five years, it’s not just about giving back to the community, but being a part of the community as well.
“There’s a lot of cancer out there,” said Mary Beth. “This area has a big cancer centre and we’ve had family members who have been affected by this disease, and I know that almost every person has been touched by this disease, so I feel that it’s very important for us to continue to donate to this foundation so we can get some research and find a way to cure it.”
“And not just by donating our money, but also donating our time and being here and supporting the community in any way we can,” Megan added. “Some people can’t afford it, but as long as you can donate some of your time, I think that’s pretty great.”
Like so many others, Morrison has been deeply affected by cancer, having lost both parents and he has a brother who is currently fighting the disease. But seeing so many people come out and support the cause, he knows a difference is being made with each step taken, just as Terry Fox did when he started his Marathon of Hope.
“Through the Terry Fox Run, they have raised $750 million since the first run,” he said. “I know people who have had the cancer that killed Terry who are alive today. The research that is being done with the money that is being raised over 37 years obviously is doing what we hoped it would do.”
