Sept 14 is annual fundraiser to raise dollars for cancer research
By Mark
Schadenberg
How
many true national heroes do Canadians have to remember, cherish and
recognize?
I'm
sure you have a list, and the list your neighbour thinks about might
be quite similar, but there is one name that would be on everyone's
list.
Terry
Fox
Terry Fox is more than an icon, as he truly earned by his actions the right
to be honoured as a remarkable human.
In
1977 at the age of 18, Fox had his right leg amputated due to bone
cancer.
On
April 12, 1980, he began his run across Canada at the Atlantic Ocean
in Newfoundland.
It
was July 16 of that year that the Marathon Of Hope arrived in
Woodstock.
By
September 1, 1980, and after 143 days and more than 5,000 km, and
sadly unable to reach the border of Manitoba, Terry Fox ended his run
near Thunder Bay as cancer had spread to his lungs. There are two
links below – CBC News stories which aired the day the run was
discontinued.
Fox
died on June 28, 1981, but his Foundation has since raised over $650
million for cancer research.
Fox
once said to a reporter and is quoted in www.terryfox.org:
“Even if I don't finish,
we need others to continue. It's got to keep going without me.
A
committee organized by Bill Gillespie has kept The Terry Fox Run
running, walking and cycling (and rollerblading) in Woodstock.
Gillespie
will not forget the sacrifices and efforts of Terry Fox as he
witnessed the struggles of the Marathon Of Hope twice in 1980,
including Terry's day in Woodstock.
"It
was 40 C -- his stump was bleeding," Gillespie recalled in a
2010 Woodstock Sentinel-Review story (link below). "(Terry)
still took the time to wave to everybody.”
On
a family trip later that summer, Gillespie would again see Terry,
this time on Highway 11 near Orillia and on that occasion Fox was
running in the pouring rain.
"It's
a huge unifying thing that has happened to a country and its people.
Terry Fox is one of the best-known names inside Canada and outside of
Canada,” Gillespie previously explained to The Sentinel-Review.
"I'm really convinced Canadians are attracted to the adversity
he overcame and didn't let stand in his way."
'The
Marathon Of Home' continues.
With
worldwide collections now exceeding $650 million, the annual
community fundraiser (there are still additional school fundraisers
planned into the autumn), the Terry Fox Foundation contributes about
$30 million annually to finding a cancer cure research projects
Registrations
on Sunday, Sept 14 begin at 9 a.m. At the BDO building at 94 Graham
Street in Woodstock, with the walk (run or bicycle) beginning at 10
a.m. with distance of one, 2.5, 5 and 10 km. Participants don't have
to begin at 10 a.m. as you can complete your chosen course right at 9 a.m.
if you prefer or much later as registrations will be accepted up to 2
p.m.
Pledge
Sheets
In
Woodstock, you can pick up a participation (registration) forms at
many locations:
Kelsey's
and Montana's restaurants on Norwich Ave.
Scotiabank
branch on Dundas
Royal
Bank branch on Dundas
Tim
Horton's west end
Good
Life co-ed fitness centre
Heart
FM 104.7 studio on Norwich Ave.
LINKS:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Digital+Archives/Sports/Exploits/ID/1432770880/?sort=MostPopular
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2014/08/22/woodstock-terry-fox-run-slated-for-sept-14
Earlier in 2014:
Preview of 2013 Story:
Story from 2010:
Mark
Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior
Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal
LePage Triland Realty
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