Fundraising barbecue, raffle tickets at Arborg Co-op on Friday, Sept. 5
Arborg’s Terry Fox Committee and its partners are preparing to host another high-performing fundraising event in mid-September to support the Terry Fox Foundation and those living with cancer.
Arborg has a stellar reputation when it comes to supporting the foundation, cancer research and patient services, and committee chair Teresa Johnson said they’re hoping do the same as last year or better.
In 2024 the community and surrounding areas raised $31,123, putting it third in Manitoba just behind Stonewall and Winnipeg. Students at Arborg Early Middle School and Arborg Collegiate topped that up by another $10,000.
This is Johnson’s second year volunteering on the Arborg Terry Fox Committee. She said she stepped into the role as chair to give back to her community and try to make a difference for families experiencing cancer.
“We’ve had some cancer in our family in the last couple of years. We lost my uncle to lung cancer. And my step-dad had cancer. He had finished his treatments and was good, but his health really declined after that and he passed away,” said Johnson. “I just wanted to be part of the effort to raise funds for cancer research and give back to the community because it has affected me. Sue [Bauernhuber] spoke at last year’s run about her experience and said you won’t know how cancer affects you until it actually does, whether you’re going through yourself or with a family member.”
Johnson said her family is doing what it can to help support the fundraising event. Her son, Brody Barylski, had volunteered to have his head shaved at the 2024 run to help raise additional funds, and her daughter joined the Arborg Terry Fox Committee at the same time she did.
Everyone stepping up to contribute in some way has put Arborg front and centre among fundraising communities. In March of this year, Terry Fox’s older brother, Fred Fox, spent a day in Arborg to pay tribute to the community and people from surrounding areas, including Bifrost-Riverton, for their yearly dedication to the Terry Fox Foundation. Arborg and area was recognized as being the Terry Fox Foundation’s top fundraising community in Manitoba on a per capita basis, and also in the top two per cent of fundraising communities across Canada on a per capita basis.
Johnson shared 10 years of fundraising statistics with the Express. In 2015 Arborg raised $13,174. In 2019 it raised $18,158. The years of the COVID pandemic that saw various government restrictions on gatherings put somewhat of a dent in fundraising efforts. The 2020 run raised $6,320 before starting to recover in 2022 with a fundraising total of $12,481 and in 2023 with $14,163.
The committee’s fundraising efforts for this year’s run start early with a barbecue on Friday, Sept. 5 at the Arborg Co-op grocery store where committee members will be selling raffle tickets, T-Shirts and taking donations.
The prizes are two stylish patio chairs hand-built by former committee chair Donna Gislason and her husband Les and a solar light donated by Judy Nichol, or a one-night stay at the Arborg Blue Crescent Hotel.
On run day, the Arborg-Bifrost Fire Department will be turning its fire hall over the committee as it does every year for the run.
The event will include a silent auction with prizes from local businesses and families affected by cancer, a guest speaker (TBA), singers Taylor Rodrigues and Kiah Bobbee, a kids’ table and a barbecue that will be hosted by the Arborg Street Festival committee.
“There’s always a need for help at the barbecue on the day of the run from anyone with some time to spare,” said Johnson.
People can help raise additional funds by opting to have their heads shaved in solidarity with cancer patients.
“We’re looking for volunteers to get their head shaved,” said Johnson.
Johnson said she had confirmation from teacher Cheryl Chwaliboga, who is also on the committee, that the schools will once again be holding their own fundraising drive for the Terry Fox Foundation.
The Arborg Terry Fox Run will be held on Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Arborg-Bifrost Fire Hall. Registration starts at noon with the run starting at 1 p.m. People can also walk, use a wheelchair or roller-skate along the course through town.
For more information about the run, volunteering or making a donation, contact Teresa Johnson at (204) 378-0119.
