Health & Fitness

To Comment on this article Click Here

Organizers Sue Peister (L) and Jane Benney hold up a T-shirt for the 30th annual Terry Fox Run

The 30th annual Kincardine Terry Fox Run will be held on Sunday, Sept. 19, at the Davidson Centre.

Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. with a few speeches and the traditional walk around the track. Blinky, Kincardine's mascot, will be there, as well as representatives from the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band, the triathlon club and the fire department.

There are two new routes (five kilometres and 10 kilometres) which will include more of the beautiful lakeshore that everyone loves. People are encouraged to run, walk, bike, blade, etc., to participate in this worthwhile event to raise money for cancer research.

Food and refreshments are provided by generous local sponsors, and the Kincardine Lions Club is barbecuing hotdogs. There are four water stations available: Davidson Centre, Victoria Park, Kincardine  Cemetery and Gym Bags.

This year's theme is "Working together to outrun cancer." Terry's dream is coming true: "Inspired by a dream, grounded in tradition, volunteer-driven, no entry fee, no minimum pledge."

Together we can make a difference. Please remember that more than $500 million has been raised for cancer research.  With only three cents of every dollar going toward administration and 10 cents going toward fund-raising costs, the Terry Fox Foundation is an industry leader in fund-raising accountability. His example has proven to be universal as more than 30 countries outside Canada have hosted Terry Fox Runs.

As Terry said: "If you've given a dollar, you are a part of the Marathon of Hope." 

From 1994 to 2009 (inclusive), Kincardine has raised $149,643.57 through the Terry Fox Run for cancer research.

As always, "A single dream. A world of hope" symbolizes the the spirit of the Terry Fox Foundation, celebrating Terry's legendary cross-country Marathon of Hope to raise funds for cancer research. Please help to keep his legacy alive and uphold the integrity of his wishes.

This year, the official "National  School Run Day" is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 30. Some schools in this area may hold the run on different days depending on schedules and curriculum commitments.

Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and raised in Port Coquitlam, B.C., a community near Vancouver on Canada's west coast. An active teenager involved in many sports, he was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) and forced to have his right leg amputated 15 centimetres (six inches) above the knee in 1977.

While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients, many of them young children, that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He would call his journey the Marathon of Hope.

It was a journey that Canadians never forgot.

After 18 months and running over 5,000 kilometres (3,107 miles) to prepare, Terry started his run in St. John’s, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980, with little fanfare. Although it was difficult to garner attention in the beginning, enthusiasm soon grew, and the money collected along his route began to mount. 

He ran 42 kilometres (26 miles) per day through Canada's Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario. However, on Sept. 1, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles), Terry was forced to stop running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, because cancer had appeared in his lungs. An entire nation was stunned and saddened. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at the age 22.

The heroic Canadian was gone, but his legacy was just beginning - and through his inspiration, the annual run has continued into its 30th year in 2010.

^{for world news, books, sports, movies ...}

Tuesday, August 31, 2010