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Kelowna  

Terry Fox Run raises $100k

7 p.m. update:

Volunteer coordinators for the Terry Fox Run Lisa and Shane Worman have announced the final numbers for the event.

There was a total of 1,400 participants that raised $103,600. 125 volunteers came out to make it happen.  

"Funds raised for cancer research at our community run in Kelowna: $103,600!! WOW!!" they said in an email.


The 34th annual Terry Fox run brought hundreds of people of all ages to the Mission sportsfield Sunday morning. 

The Terry Fox Run is an annual event which raises money for cancer research and honours those lost to the disease. Over the past four decades the foundation has raised more than $650 million for cancer research.

Kelowna's event saw the whole range of people from infants in strollers to a woman who was 101-years-old participating under blue skies.

Many people wore the names of loved ones who have struggled with the disease. 

Sandy MacKay said she was walking for her neighbour. 

"It's so nice to see people of all ages, teams from the university, people with their little kids, dogs, people on bikes," she said. "I donated online and when my neighbour put out a call for a team, I came to join it."

Brendan Kennelly said his family has been deeply affected by cancer. 

"My son has had cancer, I've lost a niece and a sister," he said. "My son and I were in Prince George in 1979 when Terry came through on his run. We were in the lunchroom after a race and were all called out to cheer for this fellow as he crossed the line." 

"It's fantastic to see the legacy that he's got. Of course, the person he was - that's why there's so many people out here. It's such an inspirational story.

His son joined him for the five kilometre run Sunday.

The Terry Fox foundation boasts a track record of fiscal responsibility. Their website says they dedicate 84 cents of every dollar raised to research. 

More than 120 volunteers working with a very limited budget came together to make the event a reality.

To donate or to find more information, check out their website

 



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