Heather Latter
For the past 30 years, Fort Frances resident George Walsh has participated in the Terry Fox Run in Thunder Bay—both as a member of the colour party that makes its way to the starting line from the Terry Fox Memorial, and in the run itself.
But this year, Walsh has decided to participate in the local Terry Fox Run and will lead the participants here as they start out on their journey this Sunday (Sept. 18) at the Sorting Gap Marina.
Walsh—born with Cerebral Palsy, meaning he has limited communication and mobility, and uses a wheelchair—is always pushed along by his older brother, Sandy Stalker.
And he has always been passionate about cancer research, raising well over $100,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation over the years, ever since his father died from cancer in 1969.
When Terry Fox began his “Marathon of Hope” in 1980, Walsh took a special interest in it because Fox was an athlete like himself.
Walsh had participated in track and field events in the Games for the Physically Disabled for a number of years.
“And for Terry, he wasn’t running to win medals for himself, he was raising money to help people. I think that’s what appealed to George,” voiced Walsh’s sister, Jane Trivers. “The cancer created [Terry’s] physical disability.”
Walsh had hoped to see Fox run when he arrived in Thunder Bay, but on Sept. 1, 1980, Fox was forced to stop running just outside of Thunder Bay—cancer had appeared in his lungs. He passed away in June the following year.
However, Walsh continued to champion for the cause, with plenty of help from his mother, Norah, until she passed away in 2008.
In fact, he is quite well known by the Terry Fox Foundation and receives personalized letters from the Foundation periodically.
He also got to know Fox’s mother, Betty.
“She became very aware of George’s fundraising and passion,” stressed Trivers, citing this is a bittersweet year for the Terry Fox Foundation, since Betty Fox, who was such a driving force behind the Foundation, passed away in June of this year.
Walsh had had lunch with her a few times and he was even mentioned in a biography written about the young Canadian hero.
Walsh moved to Fort Frances about seven years ago, but continued to participate in the run in Thunder Bay because of his ties there, especially with last year marking the 30th year of the event.
But Trivers noted he has closed that door and will take part in the event here, where he lives.
“It’s exciting,” she enthused, although letting on that there is an additional reason Walsh is staying in Fort Frances for the Terry Fox Run this year.
She explained Maggie Clark, a member of the church they attend—the Church of the Holy Spirit—that is organizing the event, told Walsh if he went back to Thunder Bay for the Run, she wouldn’t bring him anymore butter tarts.
“And George will do anything for Maggie’s butter tarts,” she chuckled.
Walsh hopes plenty of people come out to support the local Terry Fox Run.
Members of the Church of the Holy Spirit took on the role of organizing the event just last year and saw quite an impressive turnout—up significantly from previous years.
And they would like to see even more participants this year.
“He’s a hero for the everyday Canadian,” Trivers expressed, citing she hopes the goals set forth by Fox continue to live on and that youth today learn about the inspirational young man.
“Cancer is a huge concern in our area,” she added. “Everyone’s been touched—and every age—parents, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.”
And cancer research continues to develop, thanks largely to funds from the Terry Fox Foundation.
Dr. John Bell, of Ottawa, who has received $9-million in funding from Terry Fox over the past decade, has developed a virus that is showing promise as a new way of attacking and shrinking cancer tumours while leaving healthy tissue alone.
While it’s early days in the still-experimental field of therapeutic cancer viruses, called oncolytic viruses, it shows what contributions to the Terry Fox Run can achieve.
It’s why Walsh will continue to support the Terry Fox Run each year.
The local run is set for this Sunday starting at the Sorting Gap Marina, with registration beginning at 1 p.m. and the run going at 1:30.
Lunch will be served at the Métis Hall following the run, with the Devlin T.O.P.S. hosting the meal.
Pledge forms are located at businesses throughout Fort Frances and the district.
Terry Fox Run T-shirts also are available by contacting Wolff at 274-7074.
