Students and faculty from Elizabeth Barret Elementary School, Manachaban Middle School and Cochrane High School will lace up their running shoes Sept. 23 for a tri-school Terry Fox Run.
At 9:30 a.m., approximately 2,000 students, staff, parents, and community members will hit the pavement as they run laps around the three schools to honour Terry Fox, the Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research advocate who raised millions of dollars through the Marathon of Hope in 1980.
After losing a leg to cancer, Fox started his journey to run across Canada on one leg. Unfortunately, Fox got as far as Thunder Bay, Ont. before his cancer returned. He passed away a little over a year later, one month before his 23rd birthday.
In a press release, Rocky View Schools (RVS) outlined how the event aligns with one of the outcomes of their four-year education plan as a way to engage students in physical activity while making a positive difference in their life, school, community and world.
Tri-school Terry Fox Runs have been held in the past in Cochrane, but due to pandemic-related reasons, it has been put on hold for the last two school years.
Many Cochrane schools in RVS have a long history of participating in Terry Fox Runs to help raise money and awareness for cancer research.
This year, students were encouraged to raise donations online to support cancer research. Principal of Elizabeth Barrett Elementary School Gerry Gaudet notes that although they have a $1,000 goal, donations have exceeded that amount.
“This is one of those events that has universal support because cancer affects everyone,” Gaudet said. “We have all lost family and friends to this horrible disease and we know people who are struggling right now.
“So, anything to honour Terry Fox’s memory and raise funds for a good cause is a good day.”
With the return of the in-person event with members of the Cochrane community, Gaudet is excited for the run next week.
“I just love to see people out there, being active and coming together to the community for a great cause,” he said.
For more information on how students, parents and community members can donate to the tri-school fundraiser, please visit terryfoxschoolrun.org.
