On Sunday, September 15, the Squamish community will gather at the Municipal Campground (39275 Loggers Lane) beside Brennan Park to honour an iconic Canadian and fundraise for innovative cancer research. Participants can run or walk the wheelchair- and stroller-friendly four-kilometre out-and-back course.
Everyone is welcome to attend, and there is no minimum fundraising amount. Participants are encouraged to register for the event at https://run.terryfox.ca/69711, or can register in person at 9:30 am on September 15.
The run will officially kick off with the opening ceremony at 10 am, and participants will enjoy a post-run barbeque featuring special guests from the community. Parking is limited, and attendees are encouraged to use bikes, etc, or public transportation.
Squamish will be among the 60+ communities worldwide hosting the Terry Fox Run on September 15, coming together to fundraise for the Terry Fox Foundation and helping achieve Terry Fox’s vision of a world without cancer. The Squamish Terry Fox Run did not occur in 2023 due to a lack of organizers, and the event’s new organizers are excited to bring the Terry Fox Run back to the community.
Please register for the run today at https://run.terryfox.ca/69711 and follow @SquamishTerryFox on Instagram or search Squamish Terry Fox Run on Facebook for more details leading up to the event. Anybody interested in volunteering or sponsoring the event can contact the race organizers at squamishterryfox@gmail.com or through social media.
Terry Fox was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) in his right leg in 1977 and had his leg amputated 15 cm (six inches) above the knee. While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He called his journey the Marathon of Hope.
Terry’s Marathon of Hope took place in 1980 to inform Canadians of the importance of finding a cure for cancer. With fierce determination, he ran an average of 42 kilometres (26 miles) daily for 143 days.
Terry was forced to end his run on September 1, 1980 when the cancer spread to his lungs. By February 1, 1981, Terry’s dream of raising $1 for every Canadian was realized – the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope fund totalled $24.17 million.
Terry died in June 1981, and the Terry Fox Run has been hosted in communities throughout the world every September to help realize Terry’s dream of a world without cancer.
