Mark Schadenberg: Publicity for 2015 Terry Fox Run in Woodstock has a local parallel story

Maddie McIntyre of Ingersoll -- pictured in Sentinel-Review story this week -- is now a student at Fanshawe College

She was diagnosed with identical cancer Terry Fox had -- osteogenic sarcoma

By Mark Schadenberg

The Woodstock Sentinel-Review published an informative story to promote the annual Terry Fox Run in Woodstock on Sunday, Sept. 20.

In printing the story (Website link is below), it was interesting to note they used a picture of cancer survivor Maddie McIntyre (Picture I took of her in June of 2014 is below) of Ingersoll to in essence depict the parallels as McIntyre is a survivor of the same cancer Terry Fox suffered from as a teenager, in which Fox had his right leg amputated in 1977 due to his diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer).

McIntyre, who is now a student at Fanshawe College in London, is a good news story after under-going her many rounds of chemotherapy and treatments. It was certainly not an easy journey for McIntyre as she did require surgery to have sections of her right leg removed – portions of her femur, knee and tibia were removed, also from her right leg (Same leg as Fox). McIntrye, who was just 16 when originally diagnosed, has been cancer-free since the summer of 2012.

You can read a pair of links below, including updates from Maddie in 2014 when she was a guest of the Relay For Life fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society in Woodstock.

Maddie McIntyre – you may remember as she received appropriate and well-deserved press to honour her efforts – attended Relay For Life and spoke on stage as a cancer survivor on the same night in June of 2014 as her graduation (formal prom event) from St. Mary's High School. More than 50 fellow students from her St. Mary's graduating class would attend Relay in their formal attire and walked a lap with Maddie. It was quite a moment of victory for Maddie, but also a moment of both tears and clapping from the other Relay participants at the CASS track.

Due to the S-R photo printed this past week, and in an effort to update the public on McIntyre's triumph and to obviously assist in promoting the 35th Terry Fox Run on Sunday, I contact Maddie through Facebook and she was quick to respond with this positive update on her health and post-secondary education.

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SCHOOL:

I am doing better than ever. I'm beginning my first year of college starting in the Video Game Design and Development course at Fanshawe College in London and I honestly love the school and program I am at.

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HEALTH:

I can't complain! I'm going no where but up from here on out, and I'm so lucky to be healthy and able to attend the school and program I wished to. I wouldn't be here today without the help of my family and my friends who stood by my side through everything and still are to this day. I can't say it enough about how lucky I am for everything !

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McIntyre has been cancer-free since the summer of 2012.

If you haven't read this year's story in The Sentinel, you should click on the link as it describes the cancer which Bill Gillespie, the main organizer for the Terry Fox Run in Woodstock for the past 6 years, is currently battling. Bill Gillespie is most certainly a local champion (Lifetime Achievement on Woodstock Sports Wall of Fame) and everyone wishes him restored health.

The Terry Fox Foundation has raised more than $700 million through on-going efforts known as The marathon Of Hope.

Terry Fox Run

Sunday, Sept. 20.

In Woodstock – 94 Graham Street (BDO accounting office) parking lot.

Registrations – 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Walk, Run, etc – 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

You can still print a registration form from the www.terryfox.org website at: http://www.terryfox.org/Run/_Library/2015_pledge_sheet/2015_English_Community_101.pdf

Mark Schadenberg

Thursday 17 September 2015

Publicity for 2015 Terry Fox Run in Woodstock has a local parallel story

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