Local Terry Fox Run about to hit a major milestone

The 43rd Annual Terry Fox Run is coming up this Sunday September 17 at Zwick’s Park.

Organizer Vicki Samaras says the Belleville event is nearing a milestone fundraising mark.

“Can you imagine our community of Belleville raising a million dollars for Terry Fox? I mean just saying it sends shivers up my spine. And we are so close, not even $10,000 away from reaching that milestone.”

The fundraising goal for this year is $35,000.

Samaras says one of the best things about the Terry Fox Foundation is that virtually all money raised goes directly to research to find a cure for cancer.

She says this community has been supporting Terry Fox since the beginning.

“So Terry Fox, we count that as the first Terry Fox Run when he did his Marathon of Hope in 1980. That’s why we’re at the 43rd Annual because it’s been 43 years since he ran. And, so Belleville is run site number 10 and what that means is it’s the tenth site to sign for the Terry Fox Run.”

She adds it will be a fun morning.

“We’re gonna have McDonald’s there, Starbucks. We’re gonna have so many breakfast goodies. Weston Bakeries is donating bagels again. We’re gonna have Reid’s Dairy donating chocolate milk. We’re gonna have lots of treats and breakfast for everybody to show up, get themselves fueled up for kickoff at 10 a.m. It’s gonna be an amazing day.”

They will also have this year’s official Terry Fox t-shirt designed with the help of Ryan Reynolds.

Registration for this year’s run begins at 9:30 at the Lion’s Pavilion at Zwick’s Park.

Click here to go to the Belleville Terry Fox Run page to register for the event or donate.