More than 275 people participated, raising more than $21,000 at the 2023 Terry Fox Run, far exceeding the Sunrise Rotary Club's goal of $7,000. Registration is now open for this year's run, which will take place Sept. 15.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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Online registration for participants and teams is now open for the 44th annual Terry Fox Run returning to the Hat on Sept. 15 as the Canadian hero’s run to raise money for cancer research continues to inspire others around the world.
The theme of this year’s event is ‘No Matter What’ and emphasizes the Fox’s reliance during his Marathon Of Hope, as he was determined to continue running no matter the odds, the distance or the obstacles he encountered during his 143-day trek across Canada.
“He’s my hero and he’s a hero of a lot of Canadians,”says Keith Walker, co-president of the Sunrise Rotary Club. “This year’s theme is ‘No Matter What,’ that was part of what Terry said.
“Keep going no matter what. It always makes me emotional when I think about it, he ran a marathon every day, on one leg. No matter what, he got out there and ran when it was raining, when it was snowing.”
The Medicine Hat Sunrise Rotary Club is hosting this year’s family friendly event that raises money for innovative cancer research along the Sunrise Rotary Trail at the college, and organizers are working to make the event inclusive to anyone in the community.
“We really encourage people to come out and walk, run, roller skate, ride their bikes or come in a wheelchair,” says Walker. “(Fox) wanted to encourage everybody, he wanted the community to be involved and so that’s what we do.”
Participants of all ages are encouraged to run, walk or stroll the three-kilometre event that loops around the college.
“And that trail doesn’t have any hills so it’s really easy for anybody to go around it,” says Walker. “It’s all straight, a nice trail right around the college.”
Last year the Sunrise Rotary Club surpassed a $7,000 goal by raising more than $21,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society to support research in labs, clinics and hospitals across the county.
This year the club has set a goal to raise $10,000 and is hoping to have more participants and teams join this year’s run.
“Last year everything came together, there was enthusiasm,” describes Walker. “The community got behind it and the weather was awesome. We’re hoping we’ll have another great day.”
In 1980 Fox embarked on his Marathon Of Hope with a goal to raise $1 for each Canadian. Today more than 650 communities participate in the Terry Fox Run in more than 35 countries around the world. Across Canada more than 10,000 schools participate in the annual fall run.
Visit terryfox.org online to register.
