The Oakville Terry Fox Run takes place this Sunday, and all Oakville residents are invited to honour Terry Fox and continue his Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research.
Oakville’s 36th annual Terry Fox Run will be held on Sunday, September 18, 2016 at Coronation Park. Walk, bike, board, blade, run, push a stroller or walk the dog along a beautiful lake-side 2k, 5k or 10k route. Participants are encouraged to car pool and are reminded there is no parking in Coronation Park itself, and are asked to observe all “No Parking” signs on side streets nearby.
...but I might not make it, and if I don't make it, then the Marathon of Hope better continue. It has to go on without me. - Terry Fox 1980
The Run’s official start time is 10:00 a.m., with registration beginning at 9:00 a.m. Opening ceremonies will once again be hosted by former Toronto Argonaut Dan Ferrone and O Canada will be performed by Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance students at Sheridan College.
The event is non-competitive and family-friendly with leashed dogs welcome participants. There is no registration fee or minimum donation required.
Once again, Run day will feature a kids’ activity tent, music, food and fun. 36th anniversary Terry Fox Run t-shirts will be available on site, $20 for cotton and $30 for dri-fit, with all proceeds from sales going to the Terry Fox Foundation. Bronte Harbour Chiropractic Clinic will be on hand to do the official warm up.
Seven year old Luka Zapiain will be selling his hand-made bracelets for a donation to the Terry Fox Foundation. Inspired by Terry’s determination, Luka decided to make and sell loom bracelets to raise funds for cancer research. Each bracelet takes him between one and three hours to make. To date Luka has raised over $440 in Terry’s honour.
Thanks to compostable cups from Whole Foods and the Town of Oakville's water bar, this year’s Terry Fox Run will once again be plastic water bottle free. Participants are invited to bring their own water bottles and refill them before and after the run. Longos has also generously donated fresh fruit, and Harpers Landing has donated fresh muffins, which will be available after the run. New this year, Catch Hospitality will have fruit at the half-way point.
Again this year the Oakville run site will feature special ‘In Memory Of’ and ‘In Honour Of’ road signs on sale for $5 each, honouring a friend or family member who has experienced cancer.
There is still time to ‘Team Up for Terry Fox.” Teams can be as few as two people or as many as 200 or more. Teaming up for Terry is a special opportunity to come together to make a difference in the fight against cancer and to bond as families, friends and neighbours while showing your commitment to giving back. To form your own team visit www.terryfox.org and click on the Team Up For Terry tab. Registration for teams and individuals will also be available on site the morning of the Run. Pledge sheets can be downloaded on the site as well and registration is available on-site on Run morning. Teams are invited to set up tents, bring friends and enjoy a fun day at the park post-run.
Last week Sammy Rawdah, owner of Sammy's Famous Old Fashion Chip Wagon in Bronte hosted the fourth annual Terry Fox fundraising lunch, raising over $600 for Oakville’s Terry Fox Run.
“The support of local businesses, service clubs and families is so important to the Oakville community and to the success of the Terry Fox Run,” said Pam Damoff, Chair of the Oakville Terry Fox Run. “By teaming up with the Terry Fox Run to raise funds for cancer research, these folks are continuing a long-standing commitment to improving the lives of everyone touched by cancer.”
Volunteers are still required to assist on run morning with everything from marshalling along the run route and working the registration table to cheering on run finishers. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Cathy Duddeck at [email protected] Students will receive volunteer hours for their efforts.
The Terry Fox Foundation is proud of the fact that 84% of all funds donated -- by Canadians of all ages and through Terry Fox Runs around the world -- go directly to research into treatments for all forms of cancer. For the 36th Anniversary, we are asking Oakville to do what Terry asked so many years ago: to raise $1 for every Oakville resident, or $187,200.