Annual Terry Fox Run scheduled
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Strathmore’s annual Terry Fox Run will be hosted by the Strathmore Run Club this year, taking off from Kinsmen Park on Sept. 18.
The run club is encouraging everyone to attend on Sept. 18 to continue supporting the fight against cancer and to take part in the family event.
Diana Baird, Strathmore Run Club representative, said it’s a non-competitive run and is open for everyone to come and participate.
“Runs are being hosted across Canada all on the same day … these are not timed races and the idea is for everybody to get out, have fun and bring more exposure about what Terry Fox is all about,” said Baird.
This will mark the first year the Strathmore Run Club is taking over hosting responsibilities for the run. Though the event has been hosted by the Town several times, each instance has been overseen by a different organization.
The Strathmore Run Club was originally contacted in 2019 to host the event, which was the last year the run was hosted completely in person.
Proceeding years saw the annual Strathmore Terry Fox Run hosted virtually due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19.
Baird said the group hopes to raise $5,000 this year through the run and to see as many residents come out to participate as possible.
The race will have options designated for participants who wish to run, walk, cycle, or otherwise traverse distances of one and five kilometers during the event. Regardless of their choice distance, everyone will be starting their run in Kinsmen Park.
“You don’t have to donate in order to participate in it. Everybody is welcome to come out. (You) do need to register to be part of it so that we can kind of figure out how much we need food-wise, but you definitely just need to come out, sign up either online or on the day of the event,” said Baird. “Everybody is welcome to the course, it’s all on paved paths so it is easily accessible for people in wheelchairs or for people with scooters and bikes. So, all modes of transportation, whether it be foot or whether it’d be motorized, are welcome to participate in it.”
Baird suggested it would be ideal if the entire town came out to participate and each donated one dollar, but realistically, she hopes for a rough attendance bordering 100 or more.
“It’s 100 per cent volunteer operated. Nobody makes any money on this event at all, with the exception that all local funds go directly to (the) Terry Fox (Foundation),” said Baird. “It’s extremely important that we have volunteers in the sense of people coming out to help out on event day, and then also donations of food and water and things like that, to help make the event really enjoyable for everybody.”