Walk, roll, run or wag your way to help raise funds for cancer research
This year the Terry Fox Run in Selkirk is back in full swing and run chairperson Jana Pringle is inviting everyone to come down to support cancer research. This is the 31st run that has taken place in Selkirk and residents can stop by Agricultural Building in Selkirk Park at TIME on Sept. 17 to participate.
The run has various distance options so that everyone can go their own distance and residents can run, walk, bicycle, rollerblade, and use wheelchairs or scooters. Dogs on leashes are also welcome to attend the event in which funds are raised for the Terry Fox Foundation.
“Their goal is to erase cancer, and through donations, not just from the run day, but throughout the year. The donations gathered, mainly go towards research on all cancers. Unfortunately, some people think it is just specific to the type that Terry had but that’s not the case, it goes towards research of all cancers for all ages,” said Pringle.
The event starts at noon with registrations. And as it’s a family-oriented event there are children’s activities including face painting between the registration and the official ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. Those who register will also be able to get a hotdog or hamburger and a drink which they can get before or after the run and a silent auction will take place with proceeds going towards the fundraising.
The official ribbon cutting that takes place at 1 p.m. starts the run. This year’s event in particular has extra significance to Pringle as her husband James Pringle, who is a cancer survivor, will have the honour of cutting the ribbon.
Pringle says that her husband is one of the main reasons that she takes part in the Terry Fox Run and has memories of explaining to her children when they were children why this run was so important.
“When explaining to my kids and them being so young, I tried to share with them the fact that Daddy is healthy now because Terry Fox did what he could to raise money to share with the doctors and the scientists to find ways to find the right medicines to help Daddy stay healthy,” she said.
In addition to explaining who Terry Fox was and how he showed everyone that we can all make a difference when it comes to helping people, parents can also explain the significance of the shirts that people wear at the Terry Fox Run. Residents can purchase a white Terry Fox shirt to support the event, of course, but red Terry Fox Shirts are given to people who are cancer survivors. Many people in our community have survived cancer and wear red shirts and by doing this they remind all of us how important attending this event and supporting cancer research is.
Participants can register ahead of time online but they should also know that they still have to check in at the registration table at the event. People can also bring pledges and donations to the registration table and register on the day of the event.
“The run is extremely family-focused, but also individual. Try to make it an important outing, an annual outing maybe, for yourself and your family, or your team to come out and help to keep Terry’s dream alive. We have younger generations that will never be able to experience what some of us older folks have – remembering seeing Terry on TV and all the hype and the talk and the importance and the news coverage. We need to be able to share that with our younger generations and this is a way we can do that. Keep in mind that doing the fundraising and the participating also helps to continue in the fight against cancer the way Terry wanted,” said Pringle.
She also wants to thank everyone who has been part of and supported the run over the years as it wouldn’t have happened without the great effort from our community.
“Thank you to so many individuals and businesses that regularly and annually, even through COVID, have been super supportive. Whether it’s helping us with signage, donations for the food, or donations for the silent option, volunteers for their time, businesses their time, to all of these people throughout Selkirk and the surrounding areas who have helped in any way shape or form thank you,” said Pringle.
To learn more about the Terry Fox Foundation or sign up for our local run online visit https://run.terryfox.ca/29143
