Dear Editor:
Despite overcast skies and windy weather, 176 Summerland residents (129 participants, 47 volunteers) came out on Sunday to support the 35th Annual Terry Fox Run.
The event raised just over $4,500, bringing the cumulative total that Summerland has raised for the Terry Fox Foundation to almost $60,000.
The atmosphere was both upbeat and reflective as participants spoke of family members and friends for whom they were running or walking.
Lloyd Hayes, the organizer of one of the first Terry Fox Runs in Canada in 1981, held the crowd’s undivided attention as he shared his memories of the Marathon of Hope and of meeting Terry Fox in person.
A special thank-you goes out to Lloyd Hayes, to Raj Gupta for emceeing the event, to the 13 Summerland Secondary School students who helped with route marshalling and traffic control, and to the many other volunteers, who helped set-up, register participants, cut and serve refreshments and sell t-shirts.
We would also like to thank the local businesses and organizations that supported the event by providing refreshments, services, promotion and equipment.
The event could not run without the support of our amazing volunteers or local businesses.
Photos from the event can be found on the event’s Facebook page, Terry Fox Run 2015 – Summerland. A few t-shirts are still available for purchase (please contact terryfoxrunsummerland@gmail.com).
The Terry Fox Run is always hosted on the second Sunday after Labour Day, the month chosen by Terry to reflect when he had to stop running and Canadians had to start. Next year’s run will be held Sunday, Sept. 18 – mark your calendars!
‘I am not a dreamer, and I am not saying that this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer.
But I believe in miracles. I have to.’ Terry Fox, October 1979.
Heather and Mike Cooke
Organizers,
2015 Summerland Terry Fox Run
Summerland
