Organizers optimistic about Terry Fox Run

Although exact numbers won’t be known until Sunday afternoon, about 140 people are expected to take part in this year’s Terry Fox Run here–if not more.
Run organizer Cst. Steve Maki said people have been picking up pledge sheets all week, and started the door-to-door canvassing to raise funds for cancer research.
“I’m hoping we have at least as many participants as last year,” he said. “I was talking to one person and between him and his wife, they’re already up to $1,000.”
And to provide a little extra push for people to get pledges, every $100 raised by a participant gets their name put in a draw for a trip for two to Orlando, Fl.
“It’s not a raffle, it’s an incentive,” Cst. Maki stressed, noting the draw will only be open to people in the run.
The Terry Fox Run here raised close to $8,000 here last September but Cst. Maki said he would like to see that figure top $10,000 this year.
The run kicks off Sunday at 3 p.m. from the Fort Frances Curling Club, with people able to run, walk, bike or roller-blade along a six or 10-km route.
The 10-km route goes all the way to Pither’s Point Park via Portage Avenue and Second Street East, then back by following Lake Road to Colonization Road East, down Front Street to Victoria Avenue, up Victoria to Second Street East, and back to the curling club via Portage Avenue.
To follow the six-km route, simply hang a right at the end of Second Street East and follow the river to Victoria Avenue and then back to the curling club.
Cst. Maki said he’d like everyone to show up shortly after 2 p.m. so there’s not a lot of congestion handing in pledge sheets. Pledge money isn’t due the day of the run although he hoped to have the bulk of it turned by Sunday.
A barbecue, open to the public, will be held after the run in the curling club parking lot, manned by volunteers from the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club.
Hot dogs and refreshments are free but donations will be accepted.