The Arborg Terry Fox Run will be held as in-person event this fall after calls for its return, and the run committee is launching a fundraising raffle this week.
Since the COVID pandemic, there has been no run scheduled. The committee, however, continued to fundraise for the Terry Fox Foundation through other means such as raffles, T-shirt sales and barbecues.
“We’re really excited to do the run again for the first time since COVID,” said committee chair Donna Gislason. “We always had good runs in the past. Many people have been asking me over the last few years, ‘When are you going to have a run again?’ So we’re really excited to be doing this.”
The fundraising run is a “very emotional event” with sadness, happiness and optimism, said Gislason, and people have obviously missed getting together to show their solidarity in the fight against cancer.
Arborg is famous for its fundraising prowess for the Terry Fox Foundation, which uses the money for cancer research.
In 2019 Arborg was second highest fundraiser in Manitoba.
“And last year was a terrific year because Arborg Early Middle School ended up participating and we raised just over $25,000,” said Gislason.
Arborg’s run committee has grown to nine people who are “awesome, dedicated and keen.” They’re organizing three major fundraising events, a raffle, a fundraising barbecue a week before the run and the run itself on Sunday, Sept. 15.
The committee started selling raffle tickets this week for a grand prize that’s sure to help runners relax after the big event in September.
“The committee has the raffle tickets ready to go and we’re raffling off two handmade Adirondack chairs with pillows and lanterns. My husband, Les, built them and we’re donating them. The draw will be held on the day we’re holding the run,” said Gislason. “Last year we did a fundraising barbecue and it was highly successful so we’re doing another one this year on Sept. 6. On that day we’ll also be selling Terry Fox T-shirts and the raffle tickets [for the chairs].”
The Arborg Fire Hall has agreed to host the run, as it had in the past, and fire trucks will lead runners, walkers, cyclists, wheelchairs and rollerbladers on a five-kilometre route through town.
Family and friends of Arborg run participants can help support their fundraising efforts by visiting the Terry Fox Foundation online and registering to donate. People can also make a donation to the community event rather than someone specific. Those who can’t make it to the run can also donate through the website. There is a dedicated Arborg Terry Fox Run page (run.terryfox.ca/55719).
The run committee is also organizing head shaves on the day of the event as they had in the past. People who wish to have their heads shaved in solidarity with cancer patients can contact run committee member Teresa at (204) 378-0119.
Raffle tickets for the chairs can be purchased from the Arborg Pharmacy or from any of the Terry Fox Run committee members.
For more information about raffle tickets, donating to the fundraiser or volunteering, call Donna Gislason at (204) 782-9694.
