The Terry Fox Community Run to be hosted in Fernie will bring the community together on September 20 in support of cancer research and Terry Fox’s enduring Marathon of Hope.
The family-friendly event will offer two-kilometre and five-kilometre routes along Fernie’s pathways. People of all ages and abilities are invited to participate individually, join with family and friends, or create a workplace or community team.
The event is entirely volunteer-led and operates without a budget to cover expenses. Organizers are inviting local residents, businesses and community groups to help by registering, fundraising, volunteering and sharing the event with others.
Terry Fox was 21 when he began the Marathon of Hope in 1980. After losing a leg to osteosarcoma, the Port Coquitlam athlete set out to run across Canada on a prosthetic leg while raising money and awareness for cancer research.
His goal was to raise one dollar from every Canadian, approximately $24 million at the time.
Fox ran the equivalent of a marathon nearly every day as he travelled through communities across the country. His journey ended when cancer spread to his lungs, but the example he set became a national symbol of courage, perseverance and hope.
The first Terry Fox Run was held in 1981. More than four decades later, communities across Canada and around the world continue to organize annual events in his name.
Fernie father and son Ben and Ian Shopland are currently supporting the Terry Fox Foundation through a 13,600-kilometre bikepacking journey across Canada. Their backcountry route follows trails, gravel roads and remote corridors rather than the more direct paved routes typically used for cross-country cycling. Ben was motivated by Terry Fox to attempt this 13,600-kilometre backcountry bikepacking journey.
The Fernie organizing committee is encouraging residents from throughout the Elk Valley to take part in the September 20 event, form teams and contribute to Terry Fox’s mission of supporting cancer research.
More information, registration and donations are available through the official Fernie Terry Fox Run fundraising page: run.terryfox.ca
