RETURN OF THE TERRY FOX RUN! Pages

The Paris Independent 4 August 6, 2022

C O M M U N I T Y N E W S Paris Ter r y Fox r un retur ns this September

By Casandra Turnbull

Terry Fox once said, “I want to set an example that will never be forgotten. ” Even though cancer prevented him from completing his run, he ultimately accomplished what he set out to do. Over 40 years after his famous trek across most of Canada, Canadians still honour his memory and desire to raise awareness for cancer research by participating in the annual Terry Fox Run. Terry has become a Canadian folklore of sorts, and his drive

and determination are still felt here in Paris, Ontario, some 42 years after he ran through this town during his Marathon of Hope. “Terry was not a quitter, he didn’t give up, he just ran out of time. All of us are the time that Terry didn’t have,” says Kiley Cruickshank, one of the lead organizers of the Paris Terry Fox Run, which takes place on September 18. She, along with her sister-in-law Melanie Chmelik, were handed the ‘coordinator torch’from Mary Crozier nine years ago. Mary was the face behind the Paris Terry Fox run for many, many years. She delivered the reigns to Cruickshank and Chmelik who share her vision and tenacity for keeping Terry’s memory alive locally. It takes a team to organize an event of this magnitude and Cruikshank acknowledges there are many members of the community who have participated and volunteered for decades, paving the way for the success of the event year after year.

Continued on page 5

The Paris Terry Fox Run takes place on September 18 at 11 am at Paris District High School. If you want to get involved, donate or volunteer, reach out to organizers by email at paristfr@outlook.com.

Photo provided by Kiley Cruikshank

The Paris Independent 5

August 6, 2022 C O M M U N I T Y N E W S

“My first participation sticker I have is from 1990, but I’m sure I started before that,” she shared. “My Dad has been a local volunteer for over 30 years, so it has always been a family cause and tradition. We have now recruited our husbands and children. ” Cruikshank said her family became involved because they felt it was important to help carry on Terry’s legacy and to show their kids Terry Fox is a hero for so many reasons; his courage, determination, compassion and athleticism, to name a few. “This event honouring Terry is a yearly reminder for our children, for all of us, that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and believe in others. ” This year’s run is the first inperson event since the pandemic hit in 2020. Like most non-profit organizations and fundraising endeavors, the last two years have been a challenge. “Our donations over the past two years took a hit. We missed the energy that comes with bringing everyone together for the same cause and the hope that we all

have that working together one day we will end this horrible disease. ” The run in Paris typically attracts around 100 participants and usually raises around $10,000 annually. Organizers hope with the growth in town over the last couple years that attendance numbers will rise this year, especially as people are eager to return to some normalcy and attend events supported prepandemic. “We have many families sign up as a team or as groups, some with shirts made as they are running in memory of a loved one. We have all been touched by cancer and this day brings us all together because of Terry and the dream he had to have us all be a part of the cure. ” So, mark your calendars for September 18 and you too can be a part of Terry’s legacy. The event, whether you choose to run it, walk it or stroll it, begins at 11 am at Paris District High School. You can register online or in advance at the school at 10 am. This year’s route will be adjusted due to construction on Market Street. Regardless, the 5k entire

route will be accessible for everyone to participate and for those who feel athletic, you can loop through twice to double your distance and maybe even double your pledges! Participants collect pledges in advance of the run to raise money for cancer research. “Terry’s goal 42 years ago was to raise $1 for every Canadian. We know that Paris can do this,” said Cruikshank, urging people to put out a challenge to friends and local businesses to register a team and fundraise to give hope to a future where cancer doesn’t impact so many lives. Terry’s goal to raise $1 for every Canadian would have equated to $24.17 million in 1980 - a goal he accomplished four months before his death at the age of 22. Since then, more than $800 million has been raised country wide in Terry’s name. If you’d like to contribute to Terry’s legacy and help change the course of cancer, register online at www.terryfox.org or reach out locally by email to paristfr@outlook.com.

Paris Past

By Chris Whelan

TERRY FOX’S MARATHON OF HOPE ALMOST NEVER CAME

THROUGH PARIS – Back in the summer of 1980, Terry Fox, a 21-yearold British Columbia student who was running across Canada to raise money for cancer research, was coming through Southwestern Ontario. Mr. Fox, who had lost his right leg to cancer three years earlier, was expected to arrive in Paris on Tuesday July 15th , 1980, sometime in the morning around 8:00 AM. Paris and area had taken Terry Fox to heart and were sure glad that he decided to change his plans to include this region in his cross-Canada “Marathon of Hope. ” His original route was to go north from Toronto but that changed with the numerous letters and invitations he received from this region. Terry had already covered more than 2,200 miles since he started running in Newfoundland in April. His plan was to reach his hometown of Port Coquitlam, B.C. by November. That alone would be a major achievement for any person without the handicap of an artificial limb. The sheer spunk and the noble cause which drives him left little room for doubts whether he would achieve his objective of raising money for cancer research. Along the route Canadian Cancer Society units were collecting pledges for the run. Mr. Fox entered the area on Highway 2 coming from Ancaster and running along Colborne Street West, Dalhousie Street, Brant Avenue, Paris Road, and along to Paris. In the evening after running through Paris he was driven back to the Holiday Inn for a reception and presentation in Brantford. On July 16th , he was driven back to where he finished running the previous day to complete his journey. Mr. Fox always tried to complete 30 miles a day with two breaks during the day. A van driven by Doug and Daryl Alward, Mr. Fox's friends was always nearby and would accept spontaneous donations along the route. Cancer society officials were asking the general public not to stop or try to talk to Mr. Fox because of the concentration he needed to continue.