For more than 30 years Canadians have been working to outrun cancer through annual Terry Fox Run events across the country.
The 2014 Terry Fox Run in Prince Rupert will take place on Sunday, Sept. 14, with registration beginning outside of Northern Savings Credit Union (NSCU) at noon. Then, at 1 p.m. the run will start, with participants being able to do either a five or 10 kilometre course that is also suitable for bikes, wheelchairs, strollers and other wheeled devices.
Following the run there will be a barbecue in front of NSCU, where door prizes will be handed out.
Along with the efforts of avid-Terry Fox Foundation fundraiser Jim Terrion, Prince Rupert's 2013 event raised more than $30,000 for the organization.
Terrion recently returned to Prince Rupert in order to go door-to-door to collect donations and will be at the run on Sunday. Terrion began his Terry Fox fundraising efforts in 1990 and has collected approximately $600,000 since then. His ultimate goal is to raise $1 million for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Fox had to have his right leg amputated 15 centimetres above his knee back in 1977, after discovering he had a malignant tumour. The evening prior to his amputation, Fox read an article about an amputee runner that sparked an idea that evolved into the Marathon of Hope.
On April 12, 1980, Fox dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean, and began his journey. One hundred and forty-three days and 5,373 kilometres later, Fox was forced to end the marathon outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because his primary cancer had spread to his lungs.
Fox passed away on June 28, 1981.
People can participate in Prince Rupert's Terry Fox Run by donation, and can choose to fundraise additional money by picking up a pledge form prior to the walk at Northern Savings Credit Union.