Thirty three years after the passing away of Canadian hero, Terry Fox, students can be found running through school fields, leaves crunching beneath their feet, as they continue the legacy that was started all those years ago.
At the young age of 18, Winnipeg born Terry Fox was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) leaving no choice other than to amputate his leg, six inches above the knee. While in the hospital, it was then that Terry was so overcome by watching the suffering of other cancer patients, many of them young children, that he decided that he would run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He named his journey the ‘Marathon of Hope’.
With a dip of his artificial foot into the Atlantic Ocean, Terry’s journey began on April 12, 1980 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Terry would continue to run almost 42 km’s a day, crossing 6 provinces until, On September 1, 1980, after running 5,373 km’s, Terry was forced to stop running upon finding out that the cancer had spread into his lungs.
Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at the young age of 21. However, the courageous legacy he left behind lives on.
To date, $650 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry’s name through the annual Terry Fox Run. During the month of September, students in schools across Canada participate in the Terry Fox Run raising money and awareness for a disease that touches so many lives.
Staff, parents and students from Chestermere schools, Prairie Waters Elementary and Rainbow Creek Elementary along with, Langdon School all participated in the Terry Fox run.
Kristina Rentz, Assistant Principal at Prairie Waters Elementary says “Prairie Waters students and staff were very excited to participate in the Terry Fox run this year. The students were very privileged to listen to Don Cowie talk about his life and share Terry’s story. Our fundraising amounts will be counted the first week of October. The students were very excited to see so many firemen join our assembly and then cheering them on along the way. A special thank you to them and our amazing parents who helped make this important event a success. ”
