The annual Terry Fox run in Barriere has proven time and again that the community has an unending passion for Terry Fox’s dream.
A large part of that passion comes from local Terry Fox Run organizers, Kathy Cooper, Kris Luison, and Dylan Luison, a trio who continue to generously give of their time and energy to make the annual event a success.
“Over the past 39 years Barriere has raised $186,000 for Terry’s Run,” Cooper said. “It is a phenomenal contribution per capita.”
Cooper noted that earlier this year she asked the Terry Fox Foundation for numbers as to how much money has been raised by Barriere. They didn’t have the information from 1981 to 1988, “so I added the numbers that Dylan Luison found during his investigation into creating his ‘Barriere Terry Fox Run’ Heritage Fair project when he was a student at Barriere Elementary School. Dylan, and his mom Kris, spent a lot of time down at the Star/Journal newspaper office combing through their archived articles to find the Run information.”
This year will be the 40th anniversary of the ‘Run’. The Terry Fox Foundation and everyone involved is looking forward to commemorating this amazing milestone, but due to the current pandemic, some changes have been made. A Virtual Run will be held across Canada on Sept. 20 with the theme is “One Day. Your Way,” according to the Terry Fox Foundation website.
“This year has been particularly difficult, to say the least, but we need you now more than ever. On Sunday, Sept. 20, we ask that you continue to support cancer research by participating in and fundraising for your Virtual Run,” the website reads. “We leave it up to you to choose how to celebrate your Terry Fox effort – walk, run, dance, hike – on a favourite route and with your favourite people. Most importantly, we need you to honour the day by fundraising for cancer research.”
A comment made by Terry Fox long ago fits appropriately for this year’s Run: “Even though I’m not running anymore, people should go ahead and try to do their own thing.”
A social distancing tent will be set up in downtown Barriere to sell commemorative t-shirts, accept donations and inform potential participants of virtual registration, Cooper said. “We are also contacting the local bottle depot to accept donations.”
Kris Luison says the 2020 Run has experienced ongoing delays in getting 40th Anniversary Terry Fox Run merchandise and materials in on time as COVID-19 seems to have caused shipping delays from t-shirt suppliers. However, the good news is the shirts will be individually packaged this year to limit the number of people who have touched them.
Barriere’s Terry Fox Run organizers encourage both young and old to step up and participate in the 40th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope. Cooper noted the community has been big supporters of the event. “The Star/Journal has been such a wonderful advocate for Terry’s Dream, and we can’t tell enough how much the newspaper’s thorough coverage of the ‘Run’ each year means to us.”
“Do what works for you,” says Cooper. “It’s “Your Way” in 2020 – but please participate – walk, run, bike, hike, skate, or wheel.”
For more information about the Barriere Terry Fox Run and how you can participate call Kathy Cooper at 250-672-5758, or Kris Luison at 250-672-5929. You will also find them set-up in the foyer at Barriere AG Foods until Sept. 18.
You can register or donate online by going to: https://terryfox.org/#
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