The Terry Fox Run September 16th, 2012

On Sundays in September, Canadians across the country will be putting on their running shoes and taking part in Terry Fox Runs to raise money for cancer research.

The Captain and I live only a few short city blocks from Mile 0 on the Trans Canada Highway in Victoria, BC... there is a statue of Terry Fox very near this monument, and this year we are honored to take part in the Terry Fox Run on the morning of Sunday, September 16th, 2012.  How could we not?

We have taken part in this charity event many different times over the years, but this year, living so close to the statue that honors Terry, we felt we really have to participate.

Here is a bit of background:

An often-seen shot of Terry on the television news each evening as he ran across our great and vast country.  His strength and perseverance still inspires thousands after all this time, many of whom were not even born when he undertook his Marathon of Hope.

Who was Terry Fox?

From www.who2.com

"Terry Fox was a young Canadian whose battle with bone cancer prompted him to run across his country, despite already having had one leg amputated. Fox grew up in Port Coquitlam, outside of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Diagnosed with osteogenetic sarcoma in 1977, he had his right leg amputated just above the knee and was fitted with a prosthetic device. To draw attention to the disease and to raise funds for research, Fox announced he would run a marathon per day (more than 26 miles) across Canada, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. He began his trek on 12 April 1980 in St. John's, Newfoundland and ran until he was almost to Thunder Bay, Ontario. (According to the Terry Fox Foundation, he traversed 3,339 miles in 143 days.)

Fox was forced to abort his trip on 1 September 1980, when he learned cancer had spread to his lungs. He died less than a year later, a month shy of his 23rd birthday. His strength in the face of adversity made Fox a national hero, and since his death the Terry Fox Foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer research and treatment."

What is the Terry Fox Run? 

From Wikepedia...

" The Terry Fox Run is an annual non-competitive charity event held in numerous regions around the world in commemoration of Canadian cancer activist Terry Fox, and his Marathon of Hope, and to raise money for cancer research.

The event was founded in 1981 by Isadore Sharp, who contacted Terry in hospital by telegram and expressed his wishes to hold an annual run in Terry's name to raise funds for cancer research. Sharp himself had lost a son to cancer in 1979.

The event is held every year on the second Sunday following Labour Day. Since its inception, it has raised via the 'Terry Fox Foundation' close to $500 million dollars (CAD). The run itself is informal which means that the distance often varies, usually between 5 and 15 kilometres; participation is considered to be more important than completing the set distance. There are also runs set up by schools of every level, often with shorter distances than the "official" ones.

Unlike other major fund raising events, the Terry Fox Run has no corporate sponsorship. This is in accordance with Terry Fox's original wishes of not seeking fame or fortune from his endeavour.

During his cross-Canada run, he turned down every endorsement he was offered (including from major multinationals such as McDonald's), as he felt that it would detract from his goal of creating public awareness. The Terry Fox Runs have no advertisements on any race related materials (such as t-shirts, banners, etc.). "

The statue in Terry's honor.

 

The Captain and I do not solicit donations for our participation in this event...  but we do donate to this worthy cause from our own wallets.

Have you heard of Terry Fox?

Do you take part in charity runs?   Which is your personal favorite?