Kelowna News

The Kelowna Terry Fox Run had a total of 548 participants Sunday and raised $21,946.70.

Thomas Budd pledged to donate $5 for every participant as well as donate up to $100 in matched pledges for anyone willing to shave their head. This totaled $2,840 and is included in the run totals.

Stacey Fenwick, Terry Fox Run coordinator, says the idea behind having a pledge like this was to encourage others to give.

"One person can not donate enough to find a cure for cancer but one person can encourage others. Terry Fox and his legacy continue to encourage people to give. We will continue to hold Terry Fox Runs each year until Terry's dream of finding a cure for cancer is realized," says Fenwick.

Many participants have faithfully come out year after year, all with the same goal as Terry's - to raise money to find a cure for all forms of cancer.

This year participants from all walks of life and all ages walked, ran or biked 1.5 km, 4.5km or 9km. Some ran in memory of a loved one who has succumbed to cancer or to run in support of a loved one who has battled or is currently battling cancer.

Dignitaries present included MLA Norm Letnick, Councilor Michelle Rule, Miss Kelowna 2009 Pooja Anand, and Princess Caitlin Hansum.

Last year Councilor Brian Given was present and briefly spoke of his own battle with cancer and shared his story of personally meeting Terry Fox when he was running through Ontario in 1980. This year Councilor Michelle Rule said a few words in memory of Councilor Brian Given. He will be missed.

There were six Terry's Team members present: cancer survivors who advocate for the Terry Fox Run and who attest to the fact that cancer research is working.

“Today was a great event and I’d like to thank all of the participants and many volunteers who made it such a resounding success. Cancer touches almost all of our lives – this was a way to make a difference.”

Since Terry’s Marathon of Hope, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $490 million for cancer research with the money going to find a cure and better treatments for all forms of cancer.

Employing only 22 staff worldwide, and with some of the lowest administration and fundraising costs of any charity in Canada, the Terry Fox Foundation has continued to do an exemplary job keeping Terry’s dream alive.