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| Terry Fox Run |  |
| Do you remember where you were when you heard that Terry Fox had died? Have you visited the evocative monument just outside of Thunder Bay as you went east? Has your life or the life of someone you love been touched by cancer? It is a scary disease, and one with a huge impact on our society, and perhaps one day, on us, ourselves. But there is research going on, and progress being made. It's the time of year when all of us who like to walk, run or cycle through the great outdoors can add our individual efforts to the fight. What can be more pleasant than a 5 km walk or jog (or ride in a stroller while mom or dad pushes) on a sunny (we hope) September Sunday morning, breathing the sparklingly fresh, crisp air we enjoy in Atikokan. Darlene Desmoulins-Lewis and Glenda Hadley are in their second year of organizing the run. They will have posters up around town, with pledge sheets for picking up . They will be selling t-shirts in the mall on Saturday September 15th, as well as at the Recreation Centre on the day of the run. They are also canvassing local businesses for door prizes. (These are busy, busy women!) The policy of the Terry Fox Run is to be non-competitive, so there are no prizes for the first finisher or for the person with the greatest number of pledges, but there are prizes for almost everyone who finishes. The prizes are handed out by a draw after the run. Terry's Marathon of Hope occurred in 1980. Terry died in June 1981. Since then approximately $270 million has been raised in Terry's name. There are over 5600 run sites and over 1.6 million participants are running or walking to raise money for research. There is a very informative website if you want more information about the run at http://www.terryfoxrun.org. The run will take place on Sunday, September 16, starting at 10:00 am from the Little Falls Recreation Centre. As someone who participated in last year's run, I remember it as a lovely sunny day, spent in the company of a number of people, chatting and walking, some pushing strollers. It was a sociable event for a great cause. Why don't you get some people together and take a walk on Sunday September 16th? It could be the start of an annual happening in your life. (P.S. Those busy women who are organizing the event this year are thinking of getting some school and corporate teams for next year – why not surprise them and get some together for this year? There's still time to find your old running shoes.) |