Participants start out on last year’s Terry Fox Run, led by staff at South Okanagan Physiotherapy. In total, 22 people registered to participate last year. (Richard McGuire photo)

The annual Terry Fox Run in Osoyoos takes place this Friday to raise money for cancer research.

Registration begins at 5 p.m., at which time donations can be made. The run starts at 5:30 p.m.

This is the second year that the run will take place on a Friday rather than Sunday. The Terry Fox Foundation approved the change of day last year to help encourage more community members to participate, but so far, the date has not affected participant turnout.

The walk begins at the Sonora Community Centre and continues along Lakeshore Drive, concluding with refreshments at the Sonora Community Centre. Participants can walk, run, bike or in-line skate and choose between a 5 km or 10 km route.

In 1977, at age 19, Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer and had his leg amputated. In 1980 he began his Marathon of Hope by running across Canada to raise awareness and money for cancer research.

Fox’s dream was to raise $1 for every person in Canada, whose population at the time was 22 million, according to the Terry Fox Foundation. Fox began his journey in Newfoundland and had planned to end it in his home province of B.C., but his health deteriorated near Thunder Bay, Ont. and he was forced to stop before he could complete his marathon.

Terry Fox died just shy of his 23rd birthday on June 28, 1981, having raised more than $24 million. He had run a total of 5,373 kilometres.

Since his death, the Terry Fox Run has become an annual, worldwide fundraising event. As per Fox’s wishes, the run continues to have no corporate sponsorship.

The Osoyoos Terry Fox Run was originally organized by community members on a volunteer basis. In 2012 a request was made for the town to take on the responsibility.

There is no registration fee and no minimum donation is required to participate in the run, according to Sarah Dynneson, recreation programmer at the Sonora Community Centre.

All the money raised goes towards cancer research.

“What I really like about the Terry Fox Foundation is that it’s not hard to organize. They don’t expect a lot in return… any amount they get they’re happy,” Dynneson said.

Dynneson estimates that the turnout every year is close to 50 people. If the Osoyoos Coyotes cannot participate, the number is closer to 20.

The small turnout may be, in part, because of other community events that are scheduled on or close to the same date.

“With some of these larger events we just don’t get the numbers,” said Dynneson.

She tells of one year when a participant who was visiting the Okanagan told her that he had always taken part in Terry Fox runs in his own community and decided to join the walk in Osoyoos. When he finished, he told her that it was the “most beautiful route we’ve ever done”.

The event is open to all ages.

“Come give it a try. If nothing else, have a nice walk along the water,” said Dynneson.

MICHELE WEISZ

Osoyoos Times