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ARVIAT
A young Arviat girl showed the true spirit of the Terry Fox Run when she went out and raised more than $400 in support of the event.

Mayor Bob Leonard was on hand to congratulate Grade 7 student Eva Muckpah for her fundraising efforts during the Terry Fox Run in Arviat earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Manny Sivilay

Eva Muckpah, 12, was the top fundraiser among students from Qitiqliq Middle School who took part in the event, raising a grand total of just more than $461.

The Grade 7 student will have her efforts recognized during a general assembly at the school this week.

Qitiqliq teacher Manny Sivilay describes Muckpah as a polite, friendly, respectful and hard-working young student who always gives her best.

Sivilay said Muckpah's effort in the Terry Fox Run is something everyone should respect.

"We're all so very proud of her being able to fundraise all that money on her own," said Sivilay.

"We wanted to get the news out on what she accomplished to show Eva a little hard work does get noticed and appreciated."

Students from all three Arviat schools - Levi Angmak Elementary School, Qitiqliq Middle School and John Arnalukjuak High School - took part in the Terry Fox Run.

The run is popular among Arviat youth, many of whom spend time learning about Fox and his Marathon of Hope in the weeks leading up to the event.

The Canadian hero made it more than halfway across Canada, covering about 5,373 km during the spring and summer of 1980.

A memorial statue to Fox sits along the Trans-Canada Highway in Thunder Bay, Ont., where he ran his last mile before his cancer forced him to stop.

Held annually on the second Sunday following Labour Day, the Terry Fox Run is now in its 31st year since being founded in 1981 by Isadore Sharp.

Through the Terry Fox Foundation, the event has raised more than $500 million for cancer research without the benefit of corporate sponsorship.

That complete lack of corporate sponsorship remains in place to this day, in accordance with Fox's original wishes of not seeking fame or fortune through his 143-day Marathon of Hope.

Sivilay said in her own small way, Eva Muckpah has helped keep that spirit burning.

"Eva's become a real role model for our school," said Sivilay.

"We're all so very, very proud of her."

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