by Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 10/97) - Yellowknife organizers of this year's Terry Fox Run are aiming for more than $26,000, event co-ordinator Carol Wrigglesworth says.

Last year, about $25,000 was raised here by about 400 participants, she said.

Each year, the Terry Fox Foundation attempts to improve the international total by five percent.

In 1996, every community exceeded five percent, Wrigglesworth says.

In her second year as co-ordinator, Wrigglesworth says she's been busy -- the local committee has dropped to only four members from nine.

But there are more pledge sheets and posters around town than ever before, she added.

The run starts and finishes at the Yellowknife Community Arena. Registration begins at 1 p.m. Participants can try routes of two, five or 10 kilometres.

As well as raising money for innovative cancer research, the Terry Fox Foundation helps tell the Fox story.

In 1977, Fox was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma and had his right leg amputated above the knee. Two years later, he began training to run across Canada.

The Marathon of Hope took place in 1980. He ran 26 miles a day for 143 days.

On Sept. 1, 1980, Fox had to give up his goal outside Thunder Bay. Cancer had spread to his lungs and he died in 1981, one month short of his 23rd birthday.

The Marathon of Hope raised $24.2 million. To date, more than $180 million has been raised. The 1996 run raised a record $12.5 million.