Terry Fox Run set for Sunday in Kamloops

Sep 14, 2018 | 5:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Terry Fox Run is taking place this Sunday at Riverside Park. This year marks the 38th edition of the annual event, meant to raise much-needed funds for cancer research, and carry on Terry’s Marathon of Hope, as well as his legacy as one of the most inspirational Canadian’s to ever live.

It’s been 37 years since Terry Fox passed away, tragically losing his life to the cancer that took his leg, but in the years since his death, his legacy has continued to grow.

“I think the values he held dear are still strong because they’re very Canadian,” Run organizer Andrea McCurrah says. “He wanted it not to be about himself, he wanted it to be about cancer research and ending suffering, especially for children.”

It was a cancer diagnosis that hit close to home that helped solidify the McCurrach family’s involvement in the Terry Fox Run.

“Our daughter came home with a Grade 7 school project where she had to set a goal and work 6 months to attain it. She chose the Terry Fox Run,” McCurrach explains. “A couple of months later, my husband was diagnosed with cancer, so that really increased her efforts, and we all really got behind her.”

Since that first Terry Fox Run, Andrea’s daughter Lauren McCurrach has raised nearly $30,000 for the Kamloops event. For their first year as organizers, they’ve set what they hope is a very attainable goal.

“This year our goal… as run organizers is to get people to the park,” McCurrach says. “We would really like to see people come out and support Terry Fox and cancer research.”

When Fox began his Marathon of Hope in 1980, the Canadian Cancer Society doubted he’d reach his goal of raising a million dollars for Cancer research. To date, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $800 million dollars, a testament to how Terry’s journey touched Canadians.

The 2018 Terry Fox Run kicks off Sunday morning at 10:00 am from Riverside Park. Registration begins at 9:00 am.