Terry Fox Run continues to inspire young activists

By Kristine Hur The Peak (Simon Fraser University) BURNABY, B.C. (CUP)

Terry Fox was a first-year kinesiology student at Simon Fraser University when he first was diagnosed with bone cancer, which would eventually claim his right leg. He began the Marathon of Hope in 1980 to raise money for cancer research, but stopped a year later due to the spread of cancer. He died on June 28, 1981. On Oct. 1, 32 different teams from his former school’s faculties, departments, and services celebrated the annual Terry Fox Walk and Run. Participants chose to run in either the 4.4 kilometre-long running route or the 2.8-kilometre walking route around SFU’s Burnaby campus. “Cancer is such an important issue. Everybody [knows] somebody who has been impacted by cancer,” said Tara Black, the chair of SFU’s Terry Fox Committee. She explained that the event was meant to “get students from faculties engaged and participate on campus . . . and promote awareness about cancer prevention.” Before the run, SFU President Michael Stevenson presented this year’s esteemed Terry Fox Gold Medal Award to Christopher Arena for his commitment to raising money for sick children. Arena, a third-year biology major, was diagnosed with Castleman’s disease as a child. While battling his own rare blood disease, Arena continued his involvement in the Balding for Dollars campaign. He was able to raise $40,000 to help children with cancer and blood disorders at the B.C. Children’s Hospital. Black attributes the continuing success of the run to different faculties and departments’ willingness to participate. “Everybody has different responsibilities when [covering] the event. We have team captains from across the university and they pull together the participants from their faculties or departments,” said Black. John Grant, one of the fundraising committee co-chairs, claimed on Oct. 1 alone, they had already raised $3,000. Their goal was to raise $10,000. Although the weather was cold, teams found their own ways to stay warm. The residence team, clad in red clothing and face paint, excitedly formed a ring and broke into synchronized jumping jacks. “[Terry Fox] is one of the greatest Canadians of all time,” said Chris Rogerson, associate director of Residence Life. “This is the man who wanted one dollar from every person in Canada, and at the time he raised $24 million. . . . We have to support our own and make sure his legacy lives on.” It has been almost 30 years since the first Terry Fox Run in 1981 and it has since raised over $400 million.