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Kimberley's Terry Fox Run

“Even if I don’t finish, we need others to continue. It’s got to keep going without me.” -Terry Fox 1980

Karen Vold Oakley

For the Bulletin

When Terry fox started his marathon of hope his dream was to have everyone in Canada donate a dollar. At the time it sounded like a crazy amount of money. To date worldwide more than 600 million has been raised in his name.

“When I started this run, I said that if we all gave one dollar, we’d have $22 million for cancer research, and I don’t care man, there’s no reason that isn’t possible. No reason!”

One of the strongest drivers for Terry to start the Marathon of hope were all the people he left behind in the cancer ward.

“Maybe that’s why I’ve made it as far as I have – 2,521 miles. If I ran to a doctor every time I got a little cyst or abrasion I’d still be in Nova Scotia. Or else I’d never have started. I’ve seen people in so much pain. The little bit of pain I’m going through is nothing. They can’t shut it off, and I can’t shut down every time I feel a little sore.”

Terry called it the Marathon of hope because he said that when you have cancer hope is really all you have.   Hope that the research being done will be successful while they were still alive and you will be cured. He felt he wanted to do something because he was one of the lucky ones who walked out the doors.  Even on crutches and minus a leg, he still felt incredibly lucky.  He wanted to do something to show the people he left behind that everyone in Canada cared and wanted to help find a cure. He wanted to give them all the hope they needed.

“I’m not doing the run to become rich or famous.”

He spoke for every person still in treatment.

“I’m not a dreamer, and I’m not saying this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles. I have to.”

For me, I feel lucky that I can claim this amazing selfless human being as my hero and fellow Canadian.

“It took cancer to realize that being self-centered is not the way to live. The answer is to try and help others.”

On Sunday September 15 please join me and the rest of your community in continuing Terry’s dream and don’t forget your loonie. Centennial Hall, 11 am registration, Noon start.

If everyone in Kimberley gave a dollar that would be $6500 towards cancer research and I don’t care man, there’s no reason that isn’t possible. No reason!

Bring your kids, your neighbors, you Gramma, your dog and don’t forget Aunt Edna.