CANORA - With the memory of Terry Fox front and centre, approximately 250 students from Canora Composite School and Canora Junior Elementary School, showed their support and participated in the Terry Fox Run at the CCS track on Sept. 20.
Running in near-ideal warm late summer weather, the students were on the track in three groups at different times during the day: CJES students, CCS Grades 5 to 8, and CCS Grades 9 to 12, according to Dustin Nielsen, CCS teacher and one of the organizers.
“The Terry Fox Run is a very important event for us because we are all affected by cancer in one way or another,” said Nielsen. “The money we raise from this run will help the Terry Fox Foundation continue their research in the fight against cancer.”
The run sheds a light on the fact that just about all of us knows someone who has battled cancer. Students were given stickers which said, “Terry Fox ran for me, I am running for…” and were asked to fill in the name of the person or people they chose to run for who has been afflicted by cancer.”
Grade 10 students Katherine Hauber and Jada Nordin chose to run for “Grandpa” and “Papa” respectively. Hauber said it’s important to get involved in the Terry Fox run because “It brings the community together,” to which Nordin added “It shows support for people with cancer.”
To make things interesting, each CCS grade from 5 to 12 was assigned a different colour of clothing/flagging tape to help monitor their progress.
Grade 5: Pink
Grade 6: Orange
Grade 7: Green
Grade 8: Yellow
Grade 9: Orange
Grade 10: Yellow
Grade 11: Pink
Grade 12: Green
“Staff members tracked how many laps each grade did,” said Nielsen. “The classes that averaged the most laps per person receive a little award from the SRC (Student Representative Council). The Grade 7 class won the grade 5-8 division and the Grade 11s won the Grade 9-12 competition. As a school we did 2,391 laps which is the equivalent of 956 km.”
Leson’s Funeral Home provided a much-appreciated service, with a free piece of fruit for every student from both schools.
Cst. Baily Potts and Sgt. Derek Friesen of the Canora RCMP Detachment joined the students for a portion of the Terry Fox Run.
“I think it’s important to show support for Terry Fox because he was a Canadian hero that helped save many, many lives,” said Potts. “The RCMP supports his efforts and resilience through his entire journey and personally I believe he’s one of the bravest people in Canadian history. A lot of people/ kids were running for people they have lost due to cancer. Being able to speak about those things as an RCMP officer and just as another human in general is very special, making those connections with the students and teachers.”
Potts said being on the track with the students and staff is an important opportunity for interacting and sharing of stories.
“Walking around the track and being seen in the community is beneficial not only as a police officer but someone people can talk to like anyone else. I personally find it interesting to learn more about the kids and what they do in their day-to-day lives. It’s good to build those relationships with them where they trust you and see you both as someone that can help but also someone that can just chat about the little things in life as well.
“Overall the Terry Fox run is something that everyone can participate in and feel good about, I loved seeing the kids run so hard and try to rack up points for their grades. I feel as though it gives the children somewhere to put the pain they might be feeling from family members who have passed away from cancer as well. It’s a great experience, can’t wait to be a part of it next year!”
According to information found at terryfoxschoolrun.org, “Eighteen-year-old Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam, B.C. never saw himself as remarkable. Granted, he displayed an unusual determination to achieve the goals he set for himself but his orbit was local – family, school, sports and friends. But Terry’s cancer diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma just above the knee, the subsequent amputation of his leg and experience in the children’s cancer wards changed all that. A newly nurtured reservoir of compassion, combined with a fierce determination to bring an end to the suffering cancer causes, set Terry on a path that, quite simply, changed the world.
“Terry’s personal experience and research led him to a simple conclusion – more money was needed for cancer research. And so, in the modest but motivated style that would prove to be his trademark, Terry started training and planning for his cross-Canada run to raise funds for cancer research. He dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean on April 12, 1980 and proceeded to unite Canadians in a way never before, nor since, seen. The only thing that could have stopped Terry from reaching the Pacific Ocean did. Cancer returned in his lungs and he was forced to stop on Sept. 1, 1980 after having run 5,373 kilometres.”
It's fair to say that Terry Fox achieved his goal.
“I wanted to set an example that would never be forgotten.”
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