St. Albert runners will take to the streets on Sunday to support a 35-year tradition started by a Canadian hero and icon.
Schools in both Morinviile and St. Albert have already held smaller runs in honour of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research.
Over the years, millions of dollars have been raised in the name of the cause and communities in and around Sturgeon County have been no small contributors to the cause. Last year, more than 200 people participated in the city run. While Morinville has hosted a mishmash of community events to support the cause, next year it is planning its first official run.
Between the community runs and the efforts of the schools in the region, the generous souls in our province have demonstrated their generosity by raising hundreds of thousands of dollars towards to the national total.
Since picking up where Fox left off, Canadians have rallied behind Fox’s example to exceed $600 million raised to fight cancer. At the time, Fox had hoped to raise $1 from every Canadian and with the help of Canadians not only was that goal achieved, it has been exceeded 15-fold.
But Fox’s legacy is more than just the dollars raised in his name, it is also one of determination, perseverance and dedication. On a prosthetic limb, through inclement conditions and still fighting cancer, Fox showed the world the power of hope.
Fox’s death was a sad day for the Canadians who followed his 143-day journey of 5,373 kilometres. His example, though, inspired millions to pick up where he left off when his health failed him just outside of Thunder Bay, well short of his goal of reaching the Pacific shores of British Columbia.
We all have a part to play in the battle against the many faces of cancer. One in four Canadians will eventually die from cancer and two in five will develop the disease during their lives, according to recent stats from the Canadian Cancer Society, few of us go through life without the disease affecting us in some way. Efforts in finding a cure should be supported and, perhaps more importantly, efforts in prevention and healthy lifestyles should be encouraged to help curb the steady stream of deaths.
Fox’s cause is now older than he was when cancer claimed his life at the age of 22. The Terry Fox Run has become a national staple every September bringing communities and survivors together in this collective battle. While the circumstances are tragic, we can all hope to leave behind a legacy and message so powerful and enduring.
