Downtown Strathmore was filled with runners looking to raise funds for cancer research on Sunday (Sept. 15).
Strathmore's 27th annual Terry Fox Run began at Kinsmen Park in the afternoon, with runners racing around Kinsmen Lake before heading up north and running around Gray's Lake. In total, the run was about five kilometres.
According to organizer Diana Baird, the run has already raised over $2,800 towards cancer research. Baird also claims that over $1,000 of the funds came from a local man named Garner Keeling.
"That's not me, that's generous friends and co-workers. Hats off to them," said Keeling.
Keeling is 55 years old and was a young boy when he heard the news of Fox running his Marathon of Hope, which helped raise nearly $24 million towards cancer research by the time of Fox's death.
"Terry Fox is a true Canadian hero. The courage to never give up. You could take what he's done and apply it to any part of your life," said Keeling.
When asked if he had a personal connection to cancer, Keeling responded, "Don't we all?"
"I lost a good friend of mine to cancer a couple of years ago, and I had a scare with my mom. We need to find a way to knock cancer on the head. It's about time."
Not only did Keeling go above and beyond through fundraising, but he also ran the entire loop twice, generating 10 kilometres for the two runs.
"Run, walk, ride your bike. Just come out and support this. The people that put this on every year deserve all the credit."
Around 20 runners participated in this year's event, with local schools planning to put on their own Terry Fox Run later in the week.
Despite the contest being over, donations can still be made for the run on the Terry Fox Foundation's website. Donations for the event are accepted until the end of October.
You can see more photos from Strathmore's annual Terry Fox Run below: