Event organizer Sarah Dynneson helped participants register for the annual Terry Fox Run on Friday, Sept. 13. The 5km and 10km run began at the Sonora Community Centre and followed along Lakeshore Drive. It was the second year in a row that the event was held on a Friday afternoon in Osoyoos. (Michele Weisz photo)
Despite the chilly wind and cloudy sky, both local residents and visitors came out to participate in the Terry Fox Run. It was the second year in a row that the event was held on a Friday afternoon. In all, there were seven participants.
Among them were three friends from the Greater Vancouver Area. Denise Jasnick, Catherine Rogers and Monique Morden were in Osoyoos for a girl’s weekend. They had just arrived in town and the first thing on their agenda was the Terry Fox Run.
While registering for the event they joked with each other about how much each had raised.
Jasnick tries to do the run every year no matter where she finds herself on run day. Rogers said she used to do it with her family in the 1980s and has continued the tradition. She raised $200. Morden, who had not done the run in a long time, raised $500.
Although local resident Kyle Silk had not taken part in the Terry Fox Run since he was a kid, his friend in Oliver was going to do it this year and he was inspired to do the same.
He decided to run on behalf of the many friends and family he had lost to cancer and for his Aunt Jackie, in particular.
His goal was to raise $200 in donations. He told all of his friends that he was planning to run. “I harassed my Facebook wall every week,” he said.
He managed to surpass his original goal and when it came time to register for the event Silk handed in $210 in donations before taking off on the route.
The run began at 5:30 p.m. at the Sonora Community Centre. Participants could choose between a 5 km or 10 km route along Lakeshore Drive. Refreshments were available.
MICHELE WEISZ
Osoyoos Times
