It’s usually a beautiful September day weather-wise but it’s always a perfect day to contribute to the effort to
cure and end the scourge of cancer.
The 45th annual Terry Fox Run will be held nation-wide Sunday September 14.
The Bay of Quinte run will also be held on that day and will be based as always at West Zwick’s Park in Belleville.
Last year, locally, a record $56,000 was raised while almost $1.1 million has been raised in the region since the run began.
Nationally, $900 million has been raised in the past 44 years and the Terry Fox Run is the
biggest one-day fundraiser for cancer research in the world.
Cancer treatments have improved vastly over the years and the funds raised by the Terry Fox Foundation through its
annual run have played a major role in making those improvements a reality.
A teenaged Terry Fox of British Columbia was diagnosed with bone cancer in his right leg in 1977 which subsequently was amputated above the knee. He was outfitted with an artificial leg.
In 1980 he set out to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research.
Setting out in St. John’s Newfoundland, Terry ran for 143 days and over 5,300 kilometres (over 3,300 miles) finally ending his Marathon of Hope in Thunder Bay after the cancer had spread to his lungs. He passed away the following year.
His run has inspired people around the world to join the ongoing effort to find cures for what is a frightening and still often fatal disease.
Get involved, enjoy the day, and donate.
Last minute registrations and donations on Sunday September 14 at West Zwick’s are welcome. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m.
Here is a link to donate online.
Kayla Rose, centre, leads Kayla’s Walkers for Knockers as the 44th annual Belleville Terry Fox Run got underway Sunday September 15 2024. Kayla at 31 has suffered a double mastectomy and is also dealing with bone cancer. She told the crowd she will never give up or lose hope that cancer can be cured.
