More than 100 join South Surrey and White Rock Terry Fox Run

Children, seniors, families and dogs gathered under sunny skies at South Surrey Athletic Park on Sunday, Sept. 20, for the annual South Surrey and White Rock Terry Fox Run. More than 100 people ran, walked, cycled and scooted in support of cancer research on a five-kilometre route, following remarks and an upbeat warmup.

For some participants, the event was their first Terry Fox Run; for others, it was a decades-long tradition. Organizers recognized Art Louie, a former athlete, war veteran and cancer survivor who has taken part in every Terry Fox Run since the first one in Alberta in 1981. The 46-year-old event was announced as taking place in about 650 communities across Canada this year, with additional runs reported around the world.

Local organizers set a fundraising goal of $25,200 and had raised $12,689 before Sunday’s event. Together with fundraising at local schools, the community is said to raise about $30,000 annually for cancer support and research. Wayne Gunthrie, who was in hospital and could not attend, was this year’s top individual donor after contributing $7,950.

South Surrey and White Rock MP Ernie Klassen was also unable to attend because of a commitment in Ottawa, but the event host read a letter from him. Klassen wrote that kindness, generosity, caring and inclusion in the community reflected the spirit of the Terry Fox Run. Dr. Michael Cox, who spoke at last year’s event, said he had not counted the crowd but thought it appeared larger than in previous years. Cox, who joined a Terry Fox-funded research program after arriving at the University of Virginia in 2000, said the foundation’s long-term research funding had enabled advances in therapies for every type of cancer. More information is available at terryfox.org.