Red Deer is hosting its 44th annual Terry Fox Run to raise money for cancer research this Sunday (Sept 15) at Gateway Christian School (4210 - 59 Street).
Registration opens at 10 a.m., with the run getting underway at 11 a.m. Preregistration is encouraged however is not required.
Co-organizer Lori Hutchings says this year's route will take participants along the south trails of the Red Deer River towards McKenzie Trails this year. She notes there was a last-minute change due to construction that is happening on the original route.
She says people have the option to run, walk, ride, or wheel any length of that route.
"They can do a few metres. They can do a 1 km, 5 km, or 10 km route and there's lots of support from cheerleaders along the way."
Hutchings mentioned that every year they have between 20 and 30 volunteers helping out with the Terry Fox Run. The event draws anywhere between 200 and 300 participants annually depending on the weather.
Donations can be made online or in person, however Hutchings notes that there is no minimum amount to participate. As of Friday morning, the Red Deer Run had raised over $17,500. Hutchings says the local Run has raised close to $600,000 over the years.
Hutchings has been participating in the Terry Fox Run since 2004 and has been volunteering for most of that time. She has been a co-organizer for the last 10 years or so.
"I was 10 years old when he [Terry] did the marathon of hope," she said. "I totally remember watching him in school and doing the Terry Fox Run myself in school. As I've gotten older, I wanted my kids to learn about him and I thought that was an important part of who he was. He was very selfless, he was very determined. He just wanted to help. He didn't do this for fame or glory or any of those things. He was a boy next door, is what his older brother Fred describes him as, he wanted to help kids who had cancer."
As is the case with most people, cancer has personally impacted Hutchings and her family.
"Almost everybody knows somebody who has gone through the battle with cancer, whether it's a friend or family member, co-worker," she commented. "For myself it was my dad and that's when I became more involved. My dad passed away unfortunately from cancer in 2009, so that's always been a reason for me and then last year I had battled myself as well, so it became very personal for me, and I know how much impact this organization has on research, and they've been helpful for millions of people across the world."
The Red Deer Terry Fox Run is a family-friendly event. Dogs are also allowed if they are well-behaved and on leash. There will be door prizes donated by local businesses in addition to a silent auction.
This year, approximately 3.6 million Canadians are expected to participate in the Terry Fox Run, either with their local community or school. The Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $900 million to support the fight against cancer.