Mishall RehmanCanadian military personnel will be among the thousands of people around the world taking part in the annual Terry Fox Run this September.
Over the next month, bases across the country are hosting runs for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members to support cancer research and continue the legacy of a Canadian legend.
CAF Terry Fox Runs kicked off this year at Garrison Petawawa on Aug. 31. Petawawa has been taking part in the Terry Fox Run for a number of years.
“So why are we all here today? It’s to do three things. First of all, to give your time and effort….so, whether you walk, whether you jog, or whether you run, we’re all going to go out and give 10 km in memory of Terry Fox.
“Number two, I’m willing to bet everyone here has had a mother, or father, a brother or sister, an aunt or an uncle, a child or a friend, who has been touched by cancer, and we all know how frequently those battles are lost. And the third, is the opportunity to give money to the Terry Fox Foundation so that they can continue to fight cancer and find the cure and help in innovative cancer research,” said Col. Michael Wright, 2 CMBG Commander, prior to the run.
Petawawa’s Terry Fox event included an 11 km competitive run, participation run and a day of all sorts of sports like beach volleyball, flag football, softball and training events.
Last year, the base raised $4,500. The aim is to exceed that amount this year.
“Cancer is something that affects many military members. There are many members of the military who have had cancer, survived cancer, or passed away from cancer.
“Cancer is something that affects us all in a big way,” said Capt. Joe Baker, event organizer.
The Terry Fox Run has been held annually throughout the world since 1981. It is a non-competitive charity event to commemorate Canadian cancer activist Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope.
Born on July 28, 1958, in Winnipeg, MB, Terry Fox was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 19 and had to undergo a right leg amputation. Two years later, he began training for his Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research and awareness. He started the run on April 12, 1980, and less than a year later his dream of raising one million for each Canadian was realized when the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope raised $24.17 million.
Fox passed away in June 1981, just a month shy of his 23rd birthday.
The first Terry Fox Run was held just three months later on Sept. 13.
Today, the run takes place in hundreds of local communities across Canada and in close to 25 countries around the world.
Money raised from the Run goes to The Terry Fox Foundation for cancer research.
Other bases and wings taking part in the Terry Fox run include:
5 CDSG Gagetown- Sunday, Sept. 8 12:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
CFB Shilo- Thursday, Sept. 14 starting at 9:30 a.m.
CFB Aldershot- Thursday, Sept. 14 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
CFB Cold Lake- Friday, Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
CFB Comox- Friday, Sept. 15 from 12 p.m. to 2:30
CFB Borden- Friday, Sept. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CFB London- Friday, Sept. 15
CFB Kingston- Sunday, Sept. 17 from 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.
CFB Lietrum- Sunday, Sept. 17 1:30 p.m.
RMC Saint-Jean- Sunday, Sept. 17 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
CFB Edmonton- TBD
CFB Suffield- TBD
CFB Wainwright TBD
