Terry Fox Run an Amazing Success

The 43rd annual Terry Fox Run took place in Medicine Hat on Sunday, September 17, in person for the first time since 2019. The Run was done virtually in 2020 and 2021 but not at all last year. The Sunrise Rotary Club took on organizing the event this year with a committee made up of members of the Sunrise and Rotary Ignite clubs as well as community members. The Kinette club had previously organized the Run.

The results of the committee’s efforts, with the support of the people of Medicine Hat, were incredible: the fundraising goal, as set by the Terry Fox Foundation, and based on previous years, was $7000. At the end of the run day almost $19,000 had been raised, by far the most ever from Medicine Hat. Since 1981, when the run first took place, the city had raised $128,000; now that figure stands at $147,000. Donations will be accepted until the end of the year so these amounts will positively change.

In 2019 there were 35 participants, so the organizing committee hoped to at least double that amount; on Sunday over 275 people ran, walked, rode bikes, pushed baby strollers, and brought their dogs. Twenty teams participated, and 325 people donated to help fund cancer research. This is the largest one-day fundraising event for cancer research in Canada, with runs taking place in over 650 communities and 80,000 Canadians participating. Terry Fox Runs also take place in thirty other countries, showing the tremendous impact this young Canadian had on the world.

The third Sunday in September is the day of the run, and this year September 17 was officially proclaimed Terry Fox Day in Medicine Hat by Mayor Clark. On Thursday, September 14 the lights on the Saamis Teepee were changed to red and white in honor of Terry Fox Day, the colours of Terry’s white t-shirt with a red maple leaf on the map of Canada across his chest.

More than thirty volunteers helped out at the Run with set-up, registration, water stations, food service, family games, and route marshals. The Medicine Hat Public Library was there with giant games; the Alberta Motor Association had a bubble machine; and the TuckedIn Jazz Collective band provided musical entertainment. Representatives from the provincial and city jurisdictions gave tribute to the legacy of Terry Fox in their brief remarks. Local radio personality Kim Johnston served as the MC and Ed Styles led a warm-up.

Leading up to the event the organizing team had the privilege of having dinner with Fred Fox, Terry’s brother, when he stayed overnight in the city en route from Regina to Calgary. The van that Terry and his run supporters used to travel across the country during the 1980 Marathon of Hope is currently on display at Heritage Park in Calgary. It is there for 143 days, the number of days Terry ran before the return of the cancer stopped him outside of Thunder Bay.

Schools will now continue the legacy with over 10,000 schools across the country participating in Terry Fox Runs and sharing the story of one of Canada’s greatest heroes.