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

The switch of the Terry Fox Run in Osoyoos to Friday from the regular Sunday helped bring out a few extra participants this year, but it threw a wrench into plans of the Osoyoos Coyotes to attend.

In total, 22 people registered to run, walk or ride in the event to raise $380 for the Terry Fox Foundation for cancer research.

That included some people who try to participate every year as well as a new contingent of six people from Osoyoos and South Okanagan Physiotherapy.

“I’m personally disappointed there are not more people,” said Susan Evans, who participates in the Terry Fox Run every year with her husband Peter.

“It’s just such a worthy cause that I can’t believe there aren’t more people participating,” said Evans, who was wearing a Terry Fox T-shirt from the 2005 run.

Last year the couple ran in Port Coquitlam, the hometown of the young Fox, who attempted to run a marathon a day across Canada in 1980 with a prosthetic leg to raise money for cancer research.

“It was enlightening to see all the people coming out there, young and old,” said Evans, adding that the couple used to live in Dawson Creek and ran there too.

“We always do it,” she said. “We just really, really believe in it.”

Iris Tweedy, who will be 95 in November, attended this year’s event on a scooter. She did walk in the event years ago, using a cane, but she still tries to participate every year on her scooter.

Last year, she sheepishly admits, she neglected to ask for a wake-up call and by the time she woke, it was too late to participate. But this year she was back.

The run, she said, is very important because cancer is so pervasive.

“We all have friends and relatives that have gone through it,” she said. “Some haven’t made it. It’s very important.”

She remembers when Fox did his Marathon of Hope in 1980, ending it early near Thunder Bay, Ontario, when the cancer returned.

“I was terribly impressed,” said Tweedy. “It touches your heart. He didn’t make it (across Canada), but he made his point and he made his mark.”

John and Majda Wlodarczyk also try to participate when they can.

John, an avid runner, enjoys participating in many runs including half marathons. Majda said she planned to walk, but would run for a little of the way.

Majda told how the couple last year visited the memorial in Northern Ontario where Fox ended his run. She and John were impressed that the small memorial they saw years ago is now a beautiful larger one.

Recalling Fox’s run, Majda said: “I remember watching TV nonstop.”

Grant Storzuk, physiotherapist and owner of Osoyoos and South Okanagan Physiotherapy and Active Wellness Centre, said this is the first year staff at the clinic have participated as a team.

“We really try and participate in community events as best we can,” he said. “We wanted this to be a good one.”

Storzuk said he was quite young when Fox made his run in 1980, but he remembers participating regularly in Terry Fox Runs in elementary and high school.

“It was always a big event for our schools to participate and fundraise for it,” he said. “So you grew up knowing about it. It’s very cool to participate again this year.”

His colleague Sally Lindley-Jones remembers 1980 better as the year she immigrated to Canada, but she does remember hearing a bit about Fox’s run at the time.

“I’ve had three children,” she said. “I’ve sponsored them all through elementary school and high school. So I might as well do it myself now,” she added, saying this is the first time she has taken part herself.

The Osoyoos Coyotes helped bring participant numbers up to 33 last year and the event is an annual commitment for them. But the changed day caught them by surprise and they had another event scheduled this year.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times

Participants in this year’s Terry Fox Run in Osoyoos represented all ages from infants to seniors. (Richard McGuire photo)

Iris Tweedy, who turns 95 in November, made sure to participate in this year’s Terry Fox Run. She rode a scooter. Although she tries to attend every year, she was disappointed that she didn’t arrange a wake-up call last year and overslept. (Richard McGuire photo)