Heather Latter
While it didn’t top last year’s event in terms of participants or money raised, organizers of this year’s Terry Fox Run were pleased with the turnout for the 35th anniversary.
“I think it went really well,” said Jane Trivers of the Church of the Holy Spirit, whose congregation members organized Sunday’s event.
“With the power out, we didn’t know what to expect,” she admitted.
The local “Marathon of Hope” drew about 80 participants and raised more than $6,300 for cancer research—down from the 100 participants and $13,000 raised last September.
“We were hoping for 100 but 80 with the power outage, that’s not bad,” Trivers reasoned, referring to Sunday’s planned power outage here that lasted more than three hours longer than planned due to a faulty switch.
She also suggested people may have taken advantage of the beautiful weekend and headed out of town.
“People are still out there thinking it’s summer,” she chuckled.
Still, Trivers only had good things to say about the event.
“The people there were in very good spirits and they were very happy to be part of it,” she enthused.
“There were a lot of regulars, which is exciting,” she added, though noting there were some new faces, too.
“The wind was strong but the sun was shining and people were very happy to be there,” Trivers said.
“There was a real positive vibe.”
Trivers said Jodi McGinnis did a good job warming up the participants before the group headed out from the Sorting Gap Marina to Seven Oaks and back.
When they returned, there were refreshments such as ice cream, fruit, and juice.
“We were sorry we couldn’t get any coffee there but we couldn’t make any without any power,” Trivers noted.
“But the ice cream held up okay.”
She added it was nice to see people of all ages taking part.
“I just love that,” Trivers remarked. “Right from the little people up to the seniors; people with their dogs and strollers.
“It’s a community thing and an extended family feeling, as well as a bigger issue of finding a cure for cancer.”
But Trivers also said this was the final year the Church of the Holy Spirit would organize the local Terry Fox Run.
“We are definitely handing this over,” she stressed. “We will not be doing it again.
“We’ve done it for six years—we started on the 30th anniversary and went to the 35th,” she noted.
“That was our goal.”
And Trivers said they were happy they took it on.
“We’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” she enthused. “It’s been a real good community connection for us, as well, as a church family.
“Every family has been affected by cancer, so that is a real connecting factor, but we have enjoyed doing it as the Church of the Holy Spirit faith family and we would like other people to experience that, too,” she reasoned.
“It’s very rewarding.”
The church is asking another church, group, or organization to take over.
“I’m putting together a kit of what we found worked and what we thought could be tweaked,” said Trivers, noting she’s going to be phoning people to see if she can get another group interested.
She added the Terry Fox Run organization is very helpful with the planning.
“They bend over backward,” she said. “They make it so easy.
“They hold your hand throughout the whole thing.”
Any group interested can contact Trivers at 274-2930 for more info.
“I just want to thank everyone for their support over the years, whether they’ve participated, whether they’ve donated, or whether they’ve sponsored,” Trivers remarked.
“It goes beyond just the people you see at the actual event.”
Even though it’s less than what they made last year, Trivers feels it is a “good dollar.”
“It’s not like it’s the only cancer run, let alone the only health issue or the only community focus,” she reasoned.
“People can’t give everything, everywhere.
“So I’m very happy that it’s still very strong and very well-supported financially, as well as through participation,” Trivers said, adding she hopes the Terry Fox Run is able to continue here.
“I’d sure like our next generation to be part of the solution,” she said.
