This year, Kenosee Lake's Terry Fox Run raised over $5,100 for cancer research and continued an unbroken record of holding the run every year since its inception 35 years ago. The Kenosee event has also raised a total of over $51,000 for cancer research-not including this years' contributions.
“Since the Marathon of Hope began, Kenosee Lake has held a Terry Fox Run,” says organizer Jackie Doty. “This year is my 15th year organizing it and I'm pleased that I'm passing the Terry Fox flag to Julie and Shelby Adams. It's in good hands and I'll continue to support the run as a participant.”
Doty says Kenosee Lake's support of the Terry Fox Run is heartfelt and spans generations.
“I think that's part of the secret to its success here,” she says. “Everyone has been touched by cancer and our run reflects that. After 15 years, I thought it was time to pass the flag to two young women who will do a great job and who are sincere in their support of Terry's dream.”
The Adams sisters have participated in the Kenosee event since they were toddlers and have a personal connection to Terry Fox.
“This run means a lot to me because my mom is a family friend of Terry Fox's family,” says Julie. “To me, the Terry Fox Run is a way for the community to come together and show our support for the thousands of people who battle cancer every day. It is our way of showing them that they're not alone.”
This year Doty asked the sisters' mother, Joan Adams, to talk to the partipants about Terry Fox.
“I did know Terry Fox,” says Joan. “The thing that made him so special is that he was the guy next door. He could be your brother, your cousin....and that really demonstrates that something like cancer happens in families all the time. Obviously, the end result with Terry was that he passed away at such a young age. But his legacy really demonstrates the power of one.”
“He did his part and we can all do ours.”
“My family started doing the Terry Fox Run at Kenosee ever since I was a toddler,” says Shelby. “We made it an annual event because it's a very worthwhile and important community cause.”
“I found the motivation to take part in this year's Terry Fox Run because one of our family friends-Marty Halpape-recently passed away from cancer,” adds Shelby. “Now that I'm getting older, I'm witnessing a lot more people that I know becoming affected by this disease. I think it's very important because we all know someone that was, or is currently battling cancer....When people you know and love die from this disease, it really makes you stop and think: 'Am I doing my part?'”
Participant Devan Brisebois recently celebrated 20 years of cancer-free living. A childhood cancer survivor, Brisebois raised over $3,000 this year for the Terry Fox Foundation. Brisebois, his wife Leta and their children, Gabrielle, 10, Benjamin, 8 and Adam, 4, all walked the route from Club 19 to the Kenosee boat launch and back.
“We're happy to be here and we're happy Devan's here,” says Leta.
Many of the participants carried small red remembrance hearts with them-a tradition started by Doty.
“Everybody has someone in their life who is affected by cancer,” she says. “Whether they're here with us or not, this is a way to keep them-and the reason for this run-close to our hearts.”
“With Julie and Shelby, Kenosee Lake's Terry Fox Run is in good hands.”
For more information or to donate: www.terryfox.org.
