Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling
Terry Fox Run

Friendly student rivalry at SKSS benefits Terry Fox Foundation

Sep 26, 2019 | 4:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Hundreds of students from South Kamloops Secondary School participated in the Terry Fox Run today.

The students took off running shortly before noon in honour of Fox, who died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 22.

The run is a way to continue Fox’s Marathon of Hope, which raised money for cancer research.

In addition to participating in the run, South Kam students also raised money ahead of the event.

“We’ve been raising money,” said leadership teacher Scott Barker. “We’ve been trying to do a toonie for Terry, trying to get our goal for the school of $2,000. I think we matched it this year, and maybe even more so.”

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

One class raised $1,172.

“We heard that another class had raised the most amount of money,” said Grade 11 student Ariele Purves. “Their teacher had promised to double whatever the students raised. So, we asked our teacher, Mr. Thibault, if we could do the same thing and he was like, ‘sure.’ So, it started out as a competition, but in the end we ended up raising a lot of money, so that’s really great.”

For many students, the Terry Fox Run hits home.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

Some, like Christopher Crowe, have experienced the loss of a loved one to cancer and understand the significance of what Fox was trying to do.

“The Terry Fox Run is especially important to me,” Crowe said, “actually very recently, because my grandfather just passed away from cancer so it kind of brings on a whole new meaning for me and my family.”