Peggy Revell
Raises over
$11,500
It looks like the local Terry Fox Run is getting back into its stride.
Sunday’s run saw 98 registered participants who raised $11,528.23 at last count for the fight against cancer.
The crowd who came out to the Sorting Gap Marina to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the “Marathon of Hope” was even larger than that—with 30 volunteers, and many more coming out to show their support even if they didn’t have a pledge form with them.
This was a boost from last year’s run, which saw just 24 registered participants raise $1,307 for cancer—an amount that was bolstered by another $1,000 donation from Wal-Mart.
“I think [this year] went really well,” reflected Cheryle Wolff, who, with the congregation of the Church of the Holy Spirit, took the reins for this year’s run after the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau stepped down as the organizer.
“I think it was just so beautiful [Sunday] and that added a lot to it,” she enthused.
Wolff also extended a big thank-you to Ted Brockie, who did a lot of the legwork for this year’s run, including measuring out the route for the participants.
This year’s run kicked off at 1 p.m., with Energy Fitness leading the crowed in warm-up exercises on the green space by the “Hallett.”
Then runners, walkers, and bikers—as well as a few four-legged friends—then made their way along this year’s route, which stretched from along the waterfront from the Sorting Gap Marina to Seven Oaks and back.
Some even ran the route twice.
“I’m so impressed with it,” said longtime Terry Fox Run participant Marjorie Katerick as everyone gathered at the Métis Hall afterwards for a meal.
“Because last year’s did not live up to the expectations.
“And I’m sure Terry Fox would be very, very pleased also [with this year’s run],” she added.
Riding her green bicycle, Katerick is a familiar face at the local Terry Fox Run. This is her 16th year participating—a span in which she has raised more than $20,000 for the cause.
“I’ve seen quite a few times that it’s changed hands, and different ideas, and I really feel that [these organizers] are going to do well with this,” she remarked, also commending the choice of route.
“It’s very impressive to see this taking off when the Volunteer Bureau was not able to do so,” Katerick added.
Organizers had grab bags, balloons, and medals for this year’s participants.
New this year were awards to recognize the top fundraisers, including plaques that will be engraved with names in the years to come.
Recognized as the top male fundraiser was Terry Robinson while Wolff was the top female fundraiser.
Ray Calder III was the top fundraiser for children under age 12.
With this year’s event now over with, organizers already are looking ahead to planning next year’s run.
“We’ve got a lot of ideas—things that worked, things that didn’t work, things that we found out about too late in the game that we can do differently next year,” noted Wolff.
“Thanks everybody for coming out,” she added. “It was a great turnout and we look forward to doing it next year.”
