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“I believe in miracles, I have to”; Terry Fox

The Kimberley Terry Fox run is this Sunday, September, 17 at noon.
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Terry Fox Foundation file

To date, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $715 million in support of Cancer research. According to terryfox.org, every year, millions of people in close to 25 countries participate in Terry Fox Runs and Terry Fox fundraising events.

On Sunday, September, 17 Kimberley will be participating in the Terry Fox Run.

Event organizer, Karen Vold says she became the organizer for the Kimberley Terry Fox run in 2004.

“My motivation came from a number of things. One, Terry is my hero. As he left the cancer ward for the first time - he decided he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, leave all the patients behind. He understood that the most important element in the fight against cancer is hope. He wanted the people fighting cancer to know the rest of the country cared and wanted to help,” said Vold.

Vold then referenced a quote from Terry Fox, “I could not leave [the cancer ward] knowing these faces and feelings would still exist, even though I would be set free from mine. I was determined to take myself to the limit for this cause.”

“Another reason I wanted to organize it was it was a very simple and easy way for my entire family to participate in the event,” Vold said. “My daughters grew up with the event as a part of our lives every September. I hoped to give them a sense of community and what it means to give back in a tangible way, to not only your community.”

The Kimberley Terry Fox run is held every third Sunday of September at the same time and along the same route. Everyone is welcome, including dogs on leash.

“Many just walk home or to the coffee shop. Some actually run the route and a few even make it back to Centennial Hall before we pack up. We always see familiar faces at the event but every year we see new families whose lives have been touched over the past year by cancer. It’s always touching to see participants take one of the ‘I’m running for’ stickers and filling in with friends or family names,” said Vold.

Vold says that one of the highlights for her, personally, is that by 3 or 4p.m. on Sunday afternoon she has added up the approximate amount of donations.

“Each run organizer phones in to the BC head office. We are put on speaker phone and the room erupts with hoots and cheers as we announce our totals,” Vold said. “One year, as I was about to hang up the volunteer [who] asked if I could hang on. She then put Rolly Fox [Terry’s father] on the line. He said he wanted to thank me personally for carrying on the run for his son. He said it was volunteers like my family that kept the whole thing going. I told him it was easy, as his son was and will always be my hero, and that his family’s commitment is why it was still going.”

The run will begin at Centennial Hall with registration at 11a.m.. There will be one, two, five and 10 kilometer routes to choose from and Delights Gelato shop will be offering free gelato to participants.

“I’ve said to people before that I’m going to do my very best to make it, I’m not going to give up. But I might not make it… if I don’t, the Marathon of Hope better continue.” - Terry Fox.



Corey Bullock

About the Author: Corey Bullock

Corey Bullock is a multimedia journalist and writer who grew up in Burlington, Ontario.
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