Drizzle does little to slow Terry Fox run
35th annual event raises more than $18,000
Simon Whitehouse
Northern News Services
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknifers faced grey and chilly conditions to participate in the 35th Terry Fox Run Sunday.
Tegwen Jones, with Zoey, her 11-year-old American Eskimo, ran three kilometres in the race. Afterward, they enjoyed a hotdog provided by the St. Patrick School Interact Club. - Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo |
Organizers estimated there were 210 walkers, runners and cyclists at the event, which raised at least $18,300. The goal every year is to raise $20,000, said co-organizer Theresa Wolfe, adding she hopes the runs set to take place at city schools will raise the remainder needed.
"Usually we are in the 300-plus (participant) range but the run is often weather dependent and it hasn't been this cold at the event in about seven years," Wolfe said. "We were happy with the turnout based on the weather."
Many participants were spirited and some brought their dogs with them. Participants could choose one, three, five or 10 kilometre runs.
Tegwen Jones was with her American Eskimo dog Zoey, who is 11 years old.
"I did three kilometres today and it was a good day," said Jones. "Last year I did five kilometres but I decided to do less today because I ran 14 km on Saturday."
Newcomers to Yellowknife also took the opportunity to get out into the community and meet people. Anya Muckosky, 11, rode her bicycle with her brother Miles, 9, and Anya's classmate Dawson Beyerbach.
"Our family just moved here and we wanted to do something different," she said.
Other participants used the event to challenge their fundraising abilities. Anson Chappell, an employee with NAV Canada, said he was running on behalf of his company, as was his colleague Edward Martin in Inuvik.
"We together raised over $3,000 and NAV Canada has said they will match whatever we raised," he said, adding his dog Lunabelle made the run too. "It was really good, the drizzle held off for the most part, but my dog is with me every year."
Chappell said in more than 10 years, NAV Canada has raised more than $100,000 by matching money raised with employees.
One of the moving aspects of the run was the involvement of Grade 10 cancer survivor Shiri MacPherson, who was master of ceremonies for the event. Other people in the opening ceremonies included Grade 10 Sir John Franklin students Grace Clarke and Meghan Newberry.
Wolfe said her main concern looking ahead is getting more volunteers out for next year's run. There are four people on the run's committee and about 20 volunteers based on Sunday's turnout.
The Terry Fox Run marks the Marathon of Hope in which Fox began to run across Canada with a prosthetic leg. The run ended in September 1980. Fox had been diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, or bone cancer, in 1977 and sought to raise money and awareness for cancer research.
To date, the annual run has raised more $650 million to go toward cancer research, according to the Terry Fox Foundation.
"Yellowknife participated in the Terry Fox Run right from the very beginning and the community is very proud to continue it annually," Wolfe said.
