This Sunday, September 15, the 44th Acton Terry Fox Run takes place at the Acton District School track. The official opening is at 8 a.m., with Mayor Ann Lawlor, MPP Ted Arnott, Citizen of the Year Rick Bonnette, and Miss Acton Fall Fair in attendance to cut the ribbon.
Participants can arrive for the 8 a.m. start, or any time between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. to register and complete their desired number of laps around the track. Although the event is called a “run,” it is in fact a non-competitive, community-based cancer fundraiser where you can run, walk, cycle, walk your dog, push a stroller, all at your own pace and the distance you are comfortable with.
Many participants do one, two, or a few laps, while others will walk or run the full 25-lap distance. It should be noted that this year the run does take place one week earlier than the Acton Fall Fair.
The food booth is back again this year, with hamburgers donated by MacMillan's and hot dogs and buns donated by Giant Tiger. Head chef Wally Ella will be assisted by former Mayor Rick Bonnette and Councillor Mike Albano. Terry Fox T-shirts will be available to purchase, along with the new Terry Fox book, entitled HOPE. All proceeds from the food booth and merchandise sales are added to our fundraising total.
The Acton Terry Fox Run has set a specific goal to strive for over the next two years. From day one, and over the past 43 years, $950,876.85 has been raised here in Acton, and if we can average $25,000 raised this year and next year, we will reach the $1-million mark on the 45th anniversary of the run.
Please consider supporting our cause, either by participating, sponsoring someone you know, or dropping by on run day to make a donation and grab a burger or hot dog. Anyone wishing to participate or donate can do so by visiting the “ACTON” run page at terryfox.org. Click on “Register and Raise Funds” to participate, or click on “Donate” to sponsor or make a donation. To purchase T-shirts, a book, or for any comments or questions, contact Jon at 519-853-2015 or [email protected].
Over the past four decades, over $900 million has been raised by run sites in Canada and around the world, and this funding has gone to support world-class cancer research through the Terry Fox Research Institute. Your donations are invested in the very best scientists and doctors located in laboratories, clinics and hospitals across Canada. More details are available by going to terryfox.org/terry-fox-run/ and clicking on “Your Impact.”
When Terry was forced to stop his Marathon of Hope, he passed the torch to all Canadians who would step up and take it. Reflecting on that final day, Terry said: “People were still lining the road saying, ‘Keep going, don’t give up, you can do it, you can make it, we’re all behind you.’ There was a camera crew waiting to film me. I don’t think they even realized that they had filmed my last mile… people were still saying ‘you can make it all the way, Terry.’ I started thinking about those comments in that last mile, too. Yeah, I thought, this might be my last one.”
Thankfully, that was not the end, but the passing of the torch and the beginning of The Terry Fox Run, in Terry’s memory.
