Mayor Stu Wells (right) and former Terry Fox Run organizer Sy Murseli, practice up for the annual Terry Fox Run in Osoyoos. This year the run is being held on Sunday, Sept. 16. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Sonora Community Centre. The run starts at 9 a.m. Photo supplied.
Councillor Michael Ryan can still remember when Terry Fox made his remarkable journey more than 30 years ago. It was something, he said, that still inspires him to this very day.
“He’s been someone I’ve had great admiration for,” said Ryan.
Ryan has been participating in the Terry Fox Run in Osoyoos for the past five years. He said besides the simple admiration of the man, the reason he continues to participate in the annual run is because it hits so close to home.
“We’ve (Ryan and his wife, Vera) had a number of cancer things among our friends,” he said. “Not so much our relatives, happily, but among close friends and so it feeds into remembering them and supporting the services and the research into trying to get rid of this.”
“All those things combine and motivate me to participate. There are a lot of good causes, but I think this is a special one.”
The annual Terry Fox Run will take place in Osoyoos this year on Sunday, Sept. 16. Sarah Dynneson, recreational programmer with the Sonora Community Centre, said it’s great to see Terry’s legacy live on.
“Terry Fox is a national icon and it raises money for cancer,” she said. “I know we have lots of different organizations that do that, but I think Terry Fox is more local and I think it’s a good organization to support.”
Registration (which is free of cost) begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Sonora Community Centre, with the run starting at 9 a.m. Dynneson said the location for the run has yet to be determined, so runners will be directed upon their registration. And while pledges aren’t a necessity, those wishing to collect pledges can hand in their donations at registration time or after the run itself.
“You can collect pledges … or you can just do it as a show of support,” said Dynneson.
Runners can also chose between a 1 km, 2 km, 5 km or 10 km track, depending on their preference.
“So come out and show your support!” said Dynneson.
