Last Friday, 22 local people turned out for the Terry Fox Run organized by the Town of Osoyoos.

Those participants together raised $380 for the Terry Fox Foundation to use for cancer research.

Participants ranged from an infant in a stroller to Iris Tweedy, almost 95, who did her “run” on her scooter.

Several of the participants faithfully enter the Terry Fox Run every year, no matter where they are, and they’re very passionate about it.

Several, including a few who came with a contingent from South Okanagan Physiotherapy, were participating for the first time.

Although the funds raised were very modest as fundraisers go, most participants contributed from their own pockets. They should be proud to have made the effort.

This year’s 22 was less than last year’s 33, but last year the participation of the Osoyoos Coyotes swelled the numbers.

This year, although the Terry Fox Run is an annual commitment for the hockey team, the change of day from the usual Sunday to the Friday in Osoyoos meant the Coyotes had another event.

The number of non-Coyotes participating actually increased this year.

Still, we heard from one participant, Susan Evans, who thought the small turnout was a disappointment in a community of more than 5,000 people.

“It’s just such a worthy cause that I can’t believe there aren’t more people participating,” said Evans, who became emotional when she reflected on loved ones hit by this awful disease.

In fact, virtually all of us have friends and loved ones who are either cancer survivors or have lost their lives to cancer. It affects us all.

Of course there are many reasons why people choose not to participate and some of these are legitimate.

We all have busy lives. The new time would have required leaving work early for many people. We don’t think we’re in physical shape to do it. And, there are so many worthy causes all competing for our attention and dollars.

The Terry Fox Foundation was formed in memory of Terry Fox, who set out to run a marathon a day across Canada in 1980. His dream was cut short when his cancer returned near the halfway point.

It’s up to the rest of us to carry on his vision – and that of the foundation – of a world without cancer.

The Terry Fox Foundation keeps its overhead minimal so it can direct what it receives to cancer research as its single mission.

Cancer takes many forms and some are easier to defeat than others. But researchers have come a long way in recent years. Many people who would have faced certain death not long ago are now surviving.

We hope that some of you who couldn’t make it for the run will visit terryfox.org and make a donation anyway.

And while you’re at it, mark down the second weekend after Labour Day for next year’s annual Terry Fox Run.