Terry Fox Walk & Run in Higashiomi

September 11, 2005

Higashiomi City Hall

10:00am (registration)... 10:20am warm-up & Start

Yokaichi's 5th Terry Fox Run

 

Terry Fox is a household name to most Canadians. Here’s why:

 

(condensed from the Terry Fox Foundation web site: http://www.terryfox.org/)

Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, a community outside of Vancouver on the west coast of Canada. An active teenager involved in many sports, Terry was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer and forced to have his right leg amputated six inches above the knee in 1977. The night before his operation, Terry read an article about an amputee who had competed in the New York Marathon. Indirectly that story, along with Terry's observations of the intense suffering of cancer patients, set the stage for what would ultimately become the most important decision of his young life.

In 1980, Terry Fox inspired the nation by attempting to run across Canada on an artificial leg. He called this quest the Marathon of Hope. Its mission was to raise money and awareness for cancer research.

With little fanfare, Terry started his journey in St. John’s, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980. Although it was difficult to garner attention in the beginning, enthusiasm soon grew, and the money collected along his route began to mount. He ran 43 kilometres a day through Canada’s Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario. It was a journey that Canadians never forgot.

However, on September 1st, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres, Terry was forced to stop his Run outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because the cancer had reappeared in his lungs. An entire nation was stunned and saddened. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at age 22.

The heroic Canadian was gone, but his legacy was just beginning. Before Terry died, he was informed that an annual event would be held to commemorate his Marathon of Hope. It would be called, appropriately, The Terry Fox Run. The first Terry Fox Run in 1981 attracted 300,000 participants and raised $3.5 million across Canada. In 2001, 1.5 million people participated in the Run, including citizens in 53 other countries, and about $23 million was raised.

Each year, thousands of volunteers organize Terry Fox Run events at more than 5,400 locations across Canada and around the world. International Run sites include the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh and Brazil (and Japan!). The Run has been credited as being the largest, single-day fundraising event for cancer research in the world.

In Canada, the annual Terry Fox Run is held every September, usually on the second Sunday following Labour Day. In countries outside Canada, the Run is organized at a time that is convenient for Run organizers.  It won't be much longer till we can say that Terry's Marathon of Hope has raised almost $1 Billion worldwide for cancer research

 

Shiga JETs Brenda Wyss, Kate Macauley and Caitlin Keelan participated in the 1999 Terry Fox Run in Kobe with friend and fellow Canuck Dave Dolan, a longtime resident of Yokaichi. Dave makes a point of presenting Terry’s story to his English students, and they are invariably moved. His students’ enthusiasm and the experience of attending the Kobe Run inspired him to realize a dream of his own – holding a Run in his adopted hometown.

On September 11th, 2005, the Run will be held in Higashiomi (formerly Yokaichi), Shiga, for the 5th time. Participants may choose a 5km or 10km course. This is not an athletic event; some participants run but the majority walk the length of the course. Fundraising (collecting donations) will take place in advance AND on the day of the Run, and 100% of the money raised will be donated to cancer research in Japan. We will be donating to Kitano Hospital Cancer Research Center again this year. We have donated approximately 1,000,000 yen so far.

 

Sounds interesting… How can I participate?

 

1) WALK OR RUN!  Join us at Higashiomi City Hall on September 11th.  Everyone is welcome. Registration begins at 10:00am.

 

2) COLLECT SPONSORS! When you run/walk, you make a voluntary contribution to the Terry Fox fund. You can increase your contribution by asking family, friends and colleagues who cannot participate, to "sponsor" you: they support your run by donating any amount of money and adding their name to the sponsor list.  Sponsor sheets are available - just ask Dave or Caitlin (e-mail at bottom)! 

 

3) BE A SPONSOR!  If you can't join us for the walk/run, you can still help. Find someone who is participating and make a contribution (donations over 5,000 yen are tax-deductible; please request a receipt if you wish).

 

4) Buy a T-shirt! Terry Fox run T-shirts will be available at the Run site on September 11th

 

5)  Why 9/11?  If you feel that it is odd to hold an event on this day (some have voiced such an opinion), please understand the reasoning.  What better way to honour victims of an attack by making a quiet statement... "I am here to help others."

 

What is a "sponsor"? - Any amount is OK and will be gratefully received! This way, even those who cannot participate directly on September 11th can still make a contribution, and those who do join the event participate on behalf of their community.

 

Remember… cancer has no nationality. SEE YOU THERE!

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