Calgarians elevate funds for most cancers analysis with Terry Fox Run

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Calgarians gathered collectively for the native Terry Fox Run for the primary time in three years on Sunday morning, to honour Terry Fox’s legacy and lift funds for most cancers analysis.

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Locals of all ages ran a 3.3-kilometre loop round Fort Calgary, elevating almost $250,000 for the Terry Fox Basis. It’s the primary time the annual occasion has been hosted in particular person since earlier than the pandemic, and Don Cowie stated it was nice to see pleasant faces as he tackled his thirty eighth Terry Fox Run.

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“I all the time look ahead to the day of the run. It’s such a special occasion for me due to Terry; I maintain him in such excessive esteem. He was a real, Canadian hero,” stated Cowie. “It was good to get again collectively and see some folks that you just see on the run yearly. It’s all the time good to reacquaint your self with buddies like that.”

Cowie misplaced his leg to most cancers years in the past and stated this 12 months’s run may need been his final.

“I simply bodily can not do it anymore. My fingers and shoulders are saying that 54 years on crutches is sufficient. They’re telling me that I’ve to cease,” stated Cowie, including that he’s pleased colleges host Terry Fox Runs for younger college students to study concerning the Canadian hero.

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“The Terry Fox Run is an establishment. There are such a lot of folks which might be concerned with it and have been concerned for years and years.”

On the occasion, Bret “The Hitman” Hart stated the day of the Terry Fox Run is a very powerful day to him as a Canadian.

“To me, there’s no greater hero, there’s no higher purpose to be happy with being a Canadian, no higher place to be right this moment than to be right here for the Terry Fox Run,” stated Hart.

“I can’t consider a greater method to give again to an awesome Canadian and an awesome trigger, and I believe it’s an unimaginable journey.”

Hart, who has survived most cancers, stated the $850 million raised for most cancers analysis by way of the Terry Fox Basis has been game-changing.

“I believe we’ve received most cancers on the run proper now, and it’s going to take the subsequent few years to lastly beat most cancers as soon as and for all,” stated Hart.

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Ken Larson talked to the group at Fort Calgary about his friendship with Fox whereas the 2 attended Simon Fraser College years in the past.

“He performed basketball there earlier than I received there, and he misplaced his leg that 12 months. The following 12 months, he got here in and was our workforce supervisor,” stated Larson.

They shot hoops collectively, Larson standing and Fox in his chair, and travelled for basketball video games and stayed in contact afterwards. When Fox informed Larson about his plan to run a marathon throughout Canada, Larson stated he was blown away.

“He begins his run. It simply picked up steam, picked up steam, picked up steam, to a degree the place it received the entire nation concerned and the remaining is historical past,” stated Larson. “He’s nonetheless in all people’s hearts and that was very evident Sunday morning.”

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Larson was thrilled to see so many individuals on the run on Sunday with some pushing strollers, some utilizing walkers and others strolling with their canines and youngsters. Though he hasn’t run in years due to a number of operations on his knee, Larson ran on Sunday.

“Terry Fox has impressed all of us to be higher folks, not simply to run however to do every little thing in life,” he stated. “I’m a giant believer there are inspirations far and wide.”

The Terry Fox Basis web site stated Sunday afternoon that $224,472 had been raised in Calgary, surpassing the fundraising purpose of $200,000.

sbabych@postmedia.com
Twitter: @BabychStephanie