Terry Fox's legacy was kept alive by 100 Mile House Elementary School students on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
The entire school took part in their Terry Fox Run around Centennial Park running as many times as they could around the park for a half hour. Crystal Dawn-Langton, principal of 100 Mile Elementary, explained they figured out that if they ran 65 laps around the park it would be the same amount as what Fox ran in a day during his Marathon of Hope.
"It's a great opportunity for the students to have him in mind. This year's Terry Fox Foundation slogan is 'no matter what' so we talked about the rain this morning and no matter what we were going to go out," Dawn-Langton said, referencing the rainy conditions the run took place in.
Terry Fox was an athlete from Port Coquitlam, B.C. who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 18, which led to the amputation of his right left above the knee. The experience left him determined to end the suffering caused by cancer and he decided to raise money and awareness about the disease by beginning his Marathon of Hope in 1980, with a goal to run across the country.
Ultimately Fox's run was halted early after his cancer returned and spread to his lungs, leading to his death in 1981 at the age of 22. For the last 43 years, his memory has been kept alive by the Terry Fox Foundation and the annual Terry Fox Run held in communities and schools country-wide. To date, the foundation has raised around $850-million for cancer research.
One of the students participating in 100 Mile House's run was Grade 4 student Holly Trombley who said she wanted to take part in the run to support Terry Fox. She remarked that during Fox's original Marathon of Hope, he was diagnosed with bone cancer after raising $1.7-million from running across Canada.
"I've been around the park two times," Holly said, noting she enjoyed watching all of her classmates running around the park.
Salem Canning, Grade 5, agreed with Holly noting the school were hoping to raise as much money as they could for research into a cure for cancer. He said taking part in the run keeps the spirit of Terry Fox alive for kids his age. Salem remarked he enjoyed the run, noting he had been around the park six times.
"It's been a very fun time," Salem said.
Dawn-Langton said collectively the school ran a total of 65 laps around the park with students and teachers invited to complete as many laps as they could. Overall she remarked she was very proud of her students and staff for their participation.
"I think it's really important to just keep in mind that students you know in kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 5 or Grade 7 you can contribute in these little ways. You can keep Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope in our minds. He's obviously a great role model for perseverance and continuing even when times got tough," Dawn-Langton observed. "Many of us are touched by cancer in some way shape or form, so this is a way they can contribute."
As of the day of the run, Dawn-Langton said they had raised $529.15 for the Terry Fox Foundation. She noted their ultimate goal was $1,000 and they would be raising money until the end of September.
