The community did Terry Fox proud Sunday morning with its two charity runs in support of cancer research.
The first Terry Fox Run got underway at 8 a.m. at the Acton District School track with a ceremonial ribbon cutting by Miss Acton Fall Fair Mackenzie Hamilton, who was joined by first runner up Ivy Bell and second runner up Daelin Andrews.
Meanwhile, the Georgetown installment of the run returned in person for the first time since the pandemic, kicking off at 9:30 a.m. at the fairgrounds with a warm up led by staff from GoodLife Fitness.
“We’re making a difference and we will eradicate this disease,” said Mayor Ann Lawlor in addressing the Georgetown participants.
“By supporting medical care and research, we’re determined that the suffering will stop.”
Both events - among the more than 10,000 taking place across Canada - are well on their way to raising thousands this year for cancer research, with contributions still coming in.
Acton run organizer Jon Hurst said he’s hoping to match the $20,000 contributed in 2022, which would bring the total raised over the past 43 years to around $950,000.
At press time, Georgetown run organizer Melissa Willson reported that approximately 260 participants have raised $19,903.15 and counting, with charity T-shirt sales topping $1,100. The Georgetown event has brought in almost $500,000 since it began more than four decades ago.
