Join the Terry Fox Fun

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Terry Fox once said, “I want to set an example that will never be forgotten.”

Thirty-eight years later, Canadians haven’t forgotten and the Terry Fox Run is an international fundraiser for cancer research through the Terry Fox Foundation.

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In Tillsonburg, the 2018 Terry Fox Run starts and finishes at the Tillsonburg Soccer Park on Quarter Town Line on Sunday, Sept. 16. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the Run (Walk or Wheel) begins at 10 a.m.

“Last year was our first time there, so we are really excited to have it there again,” said Anne Ploss, coordinator of the Tillsonburg Terry Fox Run. “We were so grateful last year because it was a very, very hot day, possibly the hottest day I remember organizing this… this is my 10th year and I know that one was the hottest, so we were so grateful to have the pavilion for shade, and the washrooms. The Soccer Club is just wonderful – I can’t say enough nice things about Wayne (Beard) for helping us.”

The change in venues is permanent, she said, but one thing will change this year to make it safer for participants. The main driveway from Quarter Town Line will be closed to traffic. Access to the Soccer Park on the 16th will be through a secondary entrance from the neighbouring subdivision.

“That will make it a little bit safer,” said Ploss, noting signs will be posted to designate the alternate entrance.

“It was definitely a positive reception to the change last year. I think it’s just nice sometimes to have something different. We heard a lot of great things about running or walking in a different part of Tillsonburg.”

The national Terry Fox Run, now in its 38th year, is fast approaching its 40th anniversary – a milestone year. Tillsonburg’s Run, which has been organized in town since 1989 on the second Sunday after Labour Day, is also nearing a major milestone.

“We’re at $281,902, so we’re hoping that within the next couple of years it’s going to hit $300,000.”

Three routes are available on the 16th – 3km, 5km and 10km.

There is no entry fee, noted Ploss, and no minimum donation.

“No minimum pledge, no registration fee, so it’s a nice family event.”
Last year about 130 participants and volunteers raised nearly $15,000, which has been their annual average for some years. The best fundraising years tend to be the ‘5’ anniversary years, said Ploss, including the 35th and 25th anniversaries.

“We’re always pleased with whatever we get.”

She’s also pleased to report that an average 84 cents from every dollar goes to cancer research. Unlike many national charities, the Terry Fox Foundation has very low administration costs.

“You can really see where the money goes.”

Volunteers are crucial, and more are needed in Tillsonburg to assist at one of three different water stations on the routes, as road marshals to help direct people (the routes are also clearly signed), and at the pavilion ‘headquarters’ where they always have small tasks.

“We’re always welcoming high school students, families, or anybody who maybe doesn’t want to do any walking or running. They are welcome to contact us for a volunteer spot. We have a wonderful group of high school students – we’ve always had a really good response from Glendale – and they always come up with great ideas to make it interesting along the route. They make posters, they cheer, do a really, really good job.”

It’s not a competitive event, but the running community has embraced the Terry Fox Run. And more and more walkers and cyclists join every year.

“I think every year we seem to have more and more folks that come out and walk,” said Ploss. “They walk with their dogs, they walk with their strollers, with wagons. So it’s a really nice way for families to participate if you do have younger kids and want to walk 3k or 5k. But we do have walkers who do the 10k as well – we keep the site open until everybody comes back.”

With the change in venue last year, the Terry Fox Run routes also changed routes, notably eliminating ‘the hill’ on Concession Street West near Participark.

“A lot of people have been happy about us removing that hill,” Ploss smiled. “The new route stays more on the west side of town and incorporates the Memorial Pathway as well, so it’s really nice.

“A lot of the runners, we like that hill… we like to hate it I guess,” she added with a laugh.

All three routes will head south on Quarter Town Line Road from the Soccer Park, rain or shine. The 3-km participants veers off at Beech, and the 5-km route continues to Concession – but not as far as the hill. The 10-km route continues south to Sanders Crescent, eventually reaching the Memorial Pathway with a turnaround near the Station Arts Centre.

“We try to avoid any high traffic areas and we look for sidewalks. We don’t close any roads for the routes so it’s really important to find places for people to run, or walk, without putting them into any kind of danger.”

Volunteers and participants wearing red Terry Fox Run shirts on the 16th are cancer survivors or currently battling cancer, who receive the shirts free of charge from the Terry Fox Foundation with online registration.

“If anybody in the community does not want to register online (www.terryfox.org), but would still like a red shirt they can contact me and I can ask the Foundation,” said Ploss, noting her email is daploss@hotmail.com.

“It’s a cause that’s really close to my heart. I lost my father and my baby brother three years ago to cancer, four months apart. For them, what’s going on right now in terms of research and treatments it’s too late, but for other families, it’s just such an important cause.”

cabbott@postmedia.com