Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope continues to inspire Cochranites and the entire nation.
Today, nearly 200 people participated in the Terry Fox Run, and it has surpassed its fundraising goal.
"It's amazing," says Lesley Hunt, who held up the organizing committee alongside Paul Cox for a third year. "We were able to reach our goal of $20,000 on Thursday night and as of today we're at $29,000."
It's expected to climb even higher.
"We've received lots of donations today as well, so that number is definitely going to be above $30,000 for Cochrane alone."
Last year, they reached their goal of $20,000, but not until after the run had been completed.
Guest speaker Ken Larson, of Calgary, told the crowd of the friendship he developed with Terry Fox while the two attended Simon Fraser University and Larson was striving to make the university basketball team.
Fox, who had been playing basketball at the university, lost his leg the year Larson arrived. Fox went on to become the team manager the next year.
The pair shot hoops together, Larson standing and Fox in his chair and travelled together with the team. When Fox told Larson of his plan to run across the nation, he was blown away.
Larson says Fox had a major impact on his life even held told him of what he intended to do.
'He's so humble and so down to Earth," says Larson. "I'm a big believer that stress doesn't build character, it reveals it, and the stress in his life revealed his character and his character lives to this day. I admire that."
Three years ago, Nicola Mailloux, with her son Beckham Stannard at her side, shared the story of how her father was fighting multiple myeloma and had started receiving chemo treatment earlier in the year.
This year, Beckham, now nine, got to share some good news.
"As of a month ago, granddad's cancer free," said the visibly happy lad.
"We're here celebrating," said Nicola. "This makes this cause even more worthwhile, knowing people are struggling and fighting, and it's possible to win."
Mailloux emceed this year's event and believes it gets better every year.
"It just seems more and more people are getting involved," she says. "It's so fun to see all the kids running and it's such a great time."
READ MORE: WATCH/GALLERY: Taking it off for Terry Fox Foundation
Grace Atkin and Judy Stewart were recognized as People of Distinction for their long-term involvement in the local Terry Fox Run. These certificates are rarely awarded.
The first Terry Fox Run was organized by two teachers at the Elizabeth Barrett school in 1983 and Grace and her daughter Krysta organized the first community run in 1986, in memory of her husband
READ MORE: Cochrane's Terry Fox Run history documented in booklet
"He had died just before they started this run, so that inspired us to become involved because we know how important it is to get a cure for cancer."
About 1,000 people were living in Cochrane at the time, recalls Grace, and she's thrilled it's continued to be held annually.
"I think it's amazing, and it's such a good cause," she says.
Today demonstrates the spirit of Terry Fox is alive and well in Cochrane.
