Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Among the 284 people who participated in Sunday's Terry Fox Run was a special group of friends from outside Yellowknife.

Laurie Tousignant of Montreal, left, Laurel Smith of Cold Lake, Alta., and Kelly Christensen and Ted Konrath of Courtney, B.C. took part in Yellowknife's Terry Fox Run this past Sunday. Every year the group meets in a different part of Canada to do the run to celebrate Christensen's victory over cancer. - Jason Emiry/NNSL photo

Kelly Christensen of Courtney, B.C., was diagnosed with cancer eight years ago. She received her treatment in Victoria. Her friends were there to support her.

"A bunch of us started visiting her in the hospital," said Laurie Tousignant of Montreal. "We overlapped our visits so that someone could be with her all of the time."

Christensen beat cancer. The friends celebrated by meeting together to enter a Terry Fox Run. Now she reunites with her friends every year to take part in the Terry Fox Run in a different part of Canada.

"Terry Fox inspired us so much to do this," said Laurel Smith of Cold Lake, Alta. "Kelly inspired us, too."

Christensen said she appreciates what she and her friends do every year.

"It means everything to me," said Christensen. "It keeps me going."

The group has completed the Terry Fox Run in Trenton, Ont., Edmonton and Montreal. Smith went to Italy for the run and Ted Konrath went all the way to Djibouti to take part in the run under the 50 C African sun.

Smith said they chose to come to Yellowknife because her niece, Amanda McGillivray, lives in Fort Providence.

"We decided to visit her," said Smith. "We timed our arrival to coincide with the Terry Fox Run. It is great to be here. We wanted to see Yellowknife. Everyone is very friendly."

Next year the group plans to participate in the run in Ottawa.