Hundreds of Port Coquitlam residents took part in the annual Terry Fox Run Sunday to help in the fight against cancer.
While many jogged, biked or hiked alone or with a small group of family and friends instead of a big crowd because of COVID-19, Terry’s spirit was still very much in evidence, says veteran Home Town run organizer Dave Teixeira.
“People were doing their own kind of run all over the city,” said Teixeira, who did his own run following the 10 km route from Hyde Creek Recreation Centre to the Terry Fox Library and back.
While getting started on his run, he spied members of the Fox family having a picnic to commemorate the annual run, which started with Fox’s own cross-Canada attempt 40 years ago.
“It was kind of neat the way people were doing these different things — COVID has forced people to be creative,” said Teixeira, who emceed a virtual opening ceremonies that was live on Facebook Sunday morning.
In other areas of the Tri-Cities runners took up the challenge to participate in the Virtual Terry Fox Run. There was a 10-year-old Anmore boy who ran a 13 km route through Port Moody and raised $1000 according to his mom Jessica Jones while former Tri-City News photographer and current Coquitlam councillor Craig Hodge walked with his family to Fox’s gravesite in the Port Coquitlam cemetery.
Hodge recounted on Facebook how he saw Fox out running while he was on a photo assignment.
People’s personal experiences and admiration for Fox are what keep the Terry Fox Run legend and cancer research fundraiser going after so many years.
Teixeira has organized the Home Town run in PoCo for 18 years, and was a fan of Terry Fox long before that, having witnessed him run through Mississauga when he was 11 years old.
At the time, Teixeira marvelled at Fox’s determination.
“Then to live in PoCo, meet (parents) Rolly, Betty and (brothers) Fred and Darrell and all these historical figures — and the fact that this run is still going strong for 40 years, I’m just in awe.”
For those who want to be a part of the national effort, there is still time to do a run, donate or raise funds for the Terry Fox Foundation. (More information is available at terryfox.org).
The Terry Fox School Run, meanwhile, takes place Sept. 30.
As much as 80 cents of every $1 goes to cancer research, one of the highest ratios of any charity, according to Teixeira.
As well, you can buy merchandise such as 40th anniversary commemorative t-shirts at the Ottawa Street and Prairie Avenue Save-On Foods stores in Port Coquitlam and hoodies, t-shirts and face masks at Patina Brewing Co, 2332 Marpole Ave.
