Running for a hero

There were bikes and strollers, grandparents and toddlers, as the annual Terry Fox run began in Vernon Sunday morning.

About 300 people, many young parents with kids, were taking part along the two-, five- and ten-kilometre course.

Other runs were being held across the nation Sunday, including in Kelowna and Penticton, in tribute to Fox and to raise funds for cancer research.

“The event keeps his memory alive,” said Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster who was taking part in the run. “Even today, he is one of the best known heros of Canada.”

Terry Fox was running across the country during his Marathon of Hope in 1980 when he fell victim to cancer for a second time. He died less than a year later at the age of 22.

“Every school in B.C. pretty well supports a Terry Fox run in early September,” said Gail Parenteau, run coordinator. “Especially now...with his family coming forward to say he is Metis, it may inspire a lot more indigenous people to get involved and run for the cure.”

“I think people understand that the Terry Fox Foundation is a great, innovative cancer research partner and they donate 82 cents on every dollar to directly to cancer research and that's really hard to beat,” said Tanya Davoren, run coordinator.

To date, over $750 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry's name through the annual Terry Fox Run, according to the Terry Fox Research Institute.