WELLINGTON COUNTY – Several communities in the county will be participating in Terry Fox Runs to honour Fox’s legacy and raise funds for cancer research.
All runs will take place on Sept. 14 at different times and locations.
Erin
The Optimist Club of Erin will host its 42nd Terry Fox Run with registration starting at 8:30am at the Centre 2000 parking lot.
The club “has hosted the Terry Fox Run since the beginning,” organizer Duncan Bull told the Advertiser.
The run will begin at 9am, with participants walking, running or biking along Credit River Road to the 10th Line before joining the Elora Cataract Trailway until the turn-around at Mississauga Road.
“There is construction in Erin now because of the new watermains … so at the beginning there is a slight detour,” Bull explained, adding the route will be marked.
“We don’t actually get onto the trailway for about half a kilometre.”
According to The Terry Fox Foundation, the Erin community has raised more than $121,000 over the last 10 years.
“The last few years it’s been around $15,000 (goal) and we’d like to keep that going and maybe expand a bit,” Bull said.
Residents helped raise over $18,000 last year.
“We’ve got a lot of regulars who have been doing it for as long as I have,” said Bull, a cancer survivor who believes in the foundation’s research.
The Optimist Club is also hosting a barbecue after the run featuring hot dogs, hamburgers and refreshments, free of charge.
“I just encourage everybody to participate if they can and/or to support someone going to participate,” Bull said.
“This is the one thing I don’t apologize for, asking anybody to consider donating … because it’s such a worthy cause.”
To donate or learn more about the event visit run.terryfox.ca/92821 or terryfox.org.
Fergus
The Fergus Terry Fox Run will be virtual this year “as we did not have any volunteers step up to organize it,” Terry Fox Foundation community director Kim Smith told the Advertiser.
“It simply means there may not be a physical event there, but the community may still register and fundraise for Fergus,” she explained.
Fergus participants have been invited to join the Guelph run on Sept. 14 from 9am to 12pm at Silvercreek Park (142 Edinburgh Rd. S.).
Currently, the Fergus community has raised $725 out of an online goal of $2,400. In the past 10 years the community has raised just over $77,000.
Those interested in volunteering to host the event can contact Kim.smith@terryfoxrun.org.
To donate or learn more about the event visit run.terryfox.ca/92773 or terryfox.org.
Drayton
The Drayton Terry Fox Run will be hosted at the Drayton Fairgrounds (Elm Street) on Sept. 14 from 12 to 4pm, with the race beginning at 1:30pm.
The route will follow the corner of Elm Street and Wood Street.
Currently, the community has raised $1,915 of a $7,200 online goal. The Drayton run has raised over $172,000 in the last 10 years.
To donate or learn more about the event visit run.terryfox.ca/92729 or terryfox.org.
Mount Forest
Local resident Bill Dineen will be setting up camp on Sept. 14 from 9am until noon, accepting donations for the Terry Fox Foundation.
He explained the Mount Forest run is a “do it your own way” kind of event, as no set route is available.
Dineen is a Mount Forest Lions Club member and has been organizing the donations for many years.
This year, he will be outside of the local NoFrills at 504 Main St. N.
Dineen will also be selling $30 Terry Fox Foundation T-shirts during that time.
Over $31,000 has been raised for the foundation over the last 10 years in Mount Forest.
To donate or learn more about the event visit run.terryfox.ca/92798 or terryfox.org.
Palmerston
Sisters Mackenzie and Delaney Norman are once again hosting Palmerston’s Terry Fox Run for their third year.
Registration starts at 10am at the Palmerston Lions Pavilion on Sept. 14.
Norman noted those participating have to sign a waiver which can be completed online before the big day.
The run starts at 11am and takes approximately an hour.
“We start at the Palmerston Lions Pavilion, from there we head to Toronto Street up to Main and King, so we do the three main roads of Palmerston,” she said.
According to The Terry Fox Foundation, in the last 10 years the Palmerston event has raised over $65,000 and local organizers have a goal of $9,000 this year.
“If the weather is good I hope we get 100 people,” Norman said. “We’re always between 75 to 90 people.”
For more information or to donate visit run.terryfox.ca/92745 or terryfox.org.
