The West Shore Terry Fox run will be missing something important this year.
Dave Hill, the former organizer since 1995, died of cancer on Aug. 23.
“He battled it for 21 months and four days,” said Hill’s daughter, Courtney Hill.
Courtney has been helping her father organize the run over the years, and is stepping in to organize it herself.
Even while grieving the loss of her father, Courtney says continuing her father’s legacy is important.
“The Terry Fox run was his third baby,” Courtney joked. “I was in my first Terry Fox run with I was six months old, my uncle carried me in the Snuggly (baby carrier).”
The run has always been important to the family.
“Courtney is displaying her true honour given what she and her and her family have been through for a tough two years,” said Darren Work, Terry Fox’s cousin who is helping Courtney with the event.
Each year more than 100 Terry Fox supporters come out the run and this year Courtney would like to see more people and hopes to raise $10,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation.
“I just want people to show up and if they knew my father then they can run in honour of him,” Courtney said.
The West Shore Terry Fox run follows the 2.4-kilometre chip trail at West Shore Parks and Recreation. If there is enough interest a 10-kilometre run may be added.
Come out and support the family, whether you’ve garnered pledges or not, says long-time coworker and friend Ian Fraser.
“Come on down for a coffee, go for a nice walk, it’s easy. Donate what you can,” said Fraser.
“Just (come) to show support for Dave and his family. Terry Fox was one of his heroes and it’s quite something that Courtney has taken over.”
The run begins at the picnic shelter at the lower fields, Sept. 16. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the run begins at 10 a.m.
A $5 donation can be made to the Terry Fox Foundation by texting TERRYFOX to 45678. Out of every dollar donated to the foundation, 84 cents is given to cancer research.
For more information go to terryfox.org.