Terry Fox Run is one of my family traditions

 Finding a cure for cancer is a Marathon Of Hope

It was a wonderful weather morning in Woodstock to remember Terry Fox and continue his Marathon Of Hope. The annual Terry Fox Run began at 10 a.m. in Southside Park on Sunday, Sept. 18 with a large gathering of participants and volunteers.

My daughter assisted at the merchandise table. Our family was often missed in years passed in the picture of volunteers because I sat on the run / walk route at the water station or checkpoint. Maeghan was likely in a stroller when she began her involvement. I continue to post on social media and help in promotions, but my role is a drop in a bucket compared to co-chair John Versaevel, who displays immense effort and organizational skills to coordinate a crew of volunteers ranging from the Lions Club of Woodstock to many other community contributors.

I always say that volunteerism is the key ingredient to any successful community.

The guest speaker at this year's Terry Fox event was a long-time friend of mine in Steve Iorio -- (pictured) selected for a few reasons including the fact he is a cancer survivor and had met Terry Fox during the original marathon in 1980. I would expect that Steve wouldn't mind me adding that his son Michael died of cancer in April of 2019, and the disease has effected others in both his immediate and surrounding family. Michael Iorio was an active outdoors-person known for his love of nature and hiking, and he died at 27.

Terry Fox was just 22 when he passed away in June of 1981, and became a national hero by running on one leg from the East Coast to Thunder Bay when cancer returned -- now in his lungs. Could you imagine being a top flight athlete who first lost his right leg to cancer, and then attempting to cross the country could no longer breathe due to cancer.

For the 2022 run in Woodstock, John Versaevel (right) and Peter Oswald from the Lions Club of Woodstock were co-chairs again and provided leadership, direction and dedication.

By the way, you can still donate for a few more weeks.

The website notes there are 10,000 events around the world and funding has moved forward on about 1,300 cancer research projects.

A very important connection to Oxford County and the Marathon Of Hope was Ron Calhoun of Thamesford who was the national fundraising chair for the Canadian Cancer Society in the early 1980s. Embro author Elaine Cougler wrote a biography about Calhoun before he died. Calhoun appeared at the Woodstock Run a few years ago. At yesterday's event in Woodstock -- you can see how the connections continue -- Cougler's sister Joyce Jackson (and Joyce's husband Brian) were among the hard-working volunteers.

The legacy of Terry Fox and the importance of maintaining a strong fundraising effort annually is a way for all Canadians to thank Terry.

Here is a short version of 'Terry's Story from the foundation's website:

Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam, BC never saw himself as remarkable. Granted, he displayed an unusual determination to achieve the goals he set for himself but his orbit was local – family, school, sports and friends. But Terry’s cancer diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma just above the knee, the subsequent amputation of his leg and experience in the children’s cancer wards changed all that. A newly nurtured reservoir of compassion, combined with a fierce determination to bring an end to the suffering cancer causes, set Terry on a path that, quite simply, changed the world.

LINKS:

https://run.terryfox.ca/3141

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2020/09/18/the-enduring-legacy-of-terry-fox-40-years-on.html

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