Over $14,000 raised at this year's Terry Fox Run

Over 200 people took part in this year's Terry Fox Run in Port Elgin September 17.

Hub Staff

Warm weather and clear blue skies greeted approximately 210 people as they gathered at North Shore Park in Port Elgin on September 17 for the 37th annual Terry Fox Run, raising over $14,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation.

Fitness Corner and Fitness Corner South owner, Holly Vanderzwet, said this was her 20th year organizing the Port Elgin event and prior to that she had done the event’s warm ups. “There's actually 9,000 of these events going on today to raise funds for cancer research,” said Vanderzwet. “82 cents out of every dollar that is raised here today, and the other events, goes strictly to cancer research for all types of cancer.”

Master of Ceremonies Nancy Cameron told participants, “This is the day that we remember and honour a courageous and brave Canadian. The story of Terry Fox, his cancer, his dream and his run across Canada.”

Cameron told the story of Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope, setting out from St. Johns, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980 to begin his run across Canada after losing his leg to cancer at the age of 18. “His ambition was to raise a million dollars for cancer research. He ran for about 14 hours every day, running a marathon, or 42 kilometres, every day.”

Fox was forced to end his run near Thunder Bay, Ontario when the disease spread to his lungs with cancer finally claiming his life in 1981. “Canada mourned the loss of a hero but the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope lives on. Today we join thousands of others across Canada and the world to carry on the legacy created by Terry Fox and inspired by his dream.”

To date, $750 million has been raised worldwide in Terry’s name through the annual Terry Fox Run.

Bonnie Holliday, a former CFOS and CKNX radio celebrity, spoke about her memories of a telephone interview with Terry Fox 37 years ago, just after he had entered Ontario on his Marathon of Hope. “This young man had run a marathon that particular day but he was still full of a lot of energy and vim and vigour,” she said. “He was very excited about what he was doing. He was excited about the people who were running along with him, which was absolutely amazing. He talked about a lemonade stand that was set up one place where some children, like the children here, were raising money for cancer research...It was absolutely amazing to talk with this humble young man.”

Holliday said the interview with Fox was one of the most important ones of her career. “I could hear his hope, I could hear his drive, I could hear his enthusiasm and his commitment to what he was doing,” she said.

This year’s Terry's Team member guest speaker was Brenda McDonald from Paisley, a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed in April, 2016. “I never ever thought I would end up with breast cancer,” said McDonald who told of the difficulties she had endured on her road to recovery.

McDonald said that she was now feeling well and had recently started back to work. “I'm going to be good and strong and we're going to do this,” she said.

Following several warm up exercises from Vanderzwet, this year's participants, representing all age groups, set off running, walking, cycling and rollerblading, keeping Terry Fox's dream alive.

Local athletes, from left, Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club's Natalia Perico and Saugeen Track and Field Club's Daniel Khan and Samara and Brooklyn Quanz at the start of the Terry Fox Run.

Tony Hernandez and Pat Surman were ready for this year's Terry Fox Run.

It was Holly Vanderzwet's 20th year of organizing Port Elgin's Terry Fox Run in Port Elgin.

Brenda McDonald from Paisley was this year’s Terry's Team member guest speaker.

Holly Vanderzwet puts participants through a variety of warm up exercises.

Southampton neighbours Dolores Spielmacher, left, who was participating in the event for the 30th time, with Nancy and Allan Murray. Allan is a cancer survivor himself.