By Jasmine Franklin
Schools in and around Ponoka will participate in the annual Terry Fox Run to keep the legacy of an unforgettable Canadian alive 28 years after his death.
This year’s Terry Fox Run is Sept. 13, however seven schools are participating on their own chosen day.
Ponoka Composite High School will be the first to host a run, on Sept.11 at 11 a.m. Students have been encouraged to raise pledges and the 3.5-kilometre event will close with a barbeque.
Ponoka Christian School’s kindergarten to Grade 9 student body will run Sept. 16, in the afternoon — they also are raising pledges.
All of Ponoka Elementary School will run Sept. 18, at 1 p.m. with the theme of empathy, in honor of Fox. The elementary students were also involved with raising pledges.
Diamond Willow, Mecca Glen, and St. Augustine Catholic, and Crestomere School will host runs on Sept. 25 — Terry Fox National School Run Day, with all students and staff participating. Students were encouraged to obtain pledges and all runs continue the entirety of the afternoon.
According to the Terry Fox Foundation, Fox was born in Winnipeg, Man. and raised in British Columbia. At 18 years old he was diagnosed with bone cancer, and his right leg was amputated. He began his Marathon of Hope in St. John’s, N.L. on April 12, 1980, and had to stop running Sept.1, 1980 when cancer appeared in his lungs. Fox died at 22 years old on June 28, 1981.
The Terry Fox Foundation is the second largest non-government fundraiser for cancer research, and 87 cents of every dollar raised goes to the Terry Fox Research Institute.
More than $450 million has been raised to date in Fox’s name.