Portage la Prairie is preparing for its 45th Annual Terry Fox Run, set for Sunday, September 14, at Island Park.
Registration opens at 9:15 a.m., with the run starting at 10:15 a.m. and continuing until noon. Participants are encouraged to preregister online, though on-site registration will also be available.
The starting point is near the tennis and pickleball courts at Island Park.
A route for everyone
The run follows a 5-kilometre route similar to last year’s, with the option for participants to turn around at any point if the full distance isn’t suitable.
The event welcomes walkers, runners, bikers, rollerbladers, wheelchair users, and dogs on leashes.
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For organizer Diane Wing, this is her second year organizing the event, which is being facilitated by the local group Positive Portage Runners.
Honouring Terry’s legacy
Terry Fox, an 18-year-old from Port Coquitlam, B.C., never saw himself as remarkable.
But after being diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, undergoing a leg amputation, and experiencing life in cancer wards, he resolved to raise money for research.
Fox began his Marathon of Hope on April 12, 1980, dipping his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean before running across Canada. He inspired the country before being forced to stop on September 1, 1980, due to a return of cancer in his lungs.
Though he never completed the cross-country journey, his efforts set the stage for an annual event that has since raised millions for cancer research.
Supporting cancer research
Wing emphasizes the personal impact of the event.
“I think that probably everyone, definitely myself included, has had cancer affect their lives in some way. I've had quite a few family members who have either passed away or have had cancer and have survived. If we look at the survival rates, they have definitely gone up. Cancer research does help, but it is a slow process,” she says.
Participants can donate online or in person on the day of the run. Terry Fox t-shirts will also available for $25 at the event or can be purchased online. Wing adds that cancer survivors can join Terry’s Team online and receive a free red shirt for the event.
"I think that probably everyone, definitely myself included, has had cancer affect their lives in some way." - Diane Wing, Portage Terry Fox Run organizer
"If anyone from Terry’s Team would like to speak at the event, please contact me…we would love to help facilitate that," mentions Wing.
She stresses that the event attracts people of all ages and abilities.
“It's really just about coming out and supporting the cause,” Wing remarks.
The goal this year for the Portage event is to raise $1,500.
A national movement
The Terry Fox Foundation honours Terry’s vision and spirit while raising critical funds for cancer research. The foundation engages more than 20,000 volunteers and 3.5 million students across nearly 10,000 annual events in Canada.
To date, it has raised over $950 million and funded more than 1,300 innovative cancer research projects, bringing hope and health to millions of Canadians.
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