Great response to Terry Fox Run
By Chris Fell Express Staff

A large crowd gathered at the Rotary Harbour Pavilion on Sunday morning to participate in the annual Terry Fox Run/Walk to raise money for cancer research. Organizers said more than 125 people participated in the event raising an amazing total of $19,000.

"This year was just unbelievable," said Alex Wallace, long time Meaford organizer of the event.

On Thursday afternoon more than 400 kids from Meaford Community School ran in a Terry Fox event, while Friday afternoon 350 counterparts from St. Vincent/Euphrasia School took part with the two schools raising a combined total of $2,500 for the local run. The 5th Annual Soldiers Challenge Road Race held Saturday morning at Area Training Centre Meaford raised an additional $1,265 as well.

Sunday morning's run kicked off with bag pipers leading the walkers and runners across the harbour parking lot from the Rotary Pavilion. A group of 20 volunteers from the community and the Rotary Club, which helped organize the event for the first time this year, made sure everything ran smoothly. Mayor Doug Grant officially started the race telling all the participants they were helping to keep Terry Fox's dream alive.

"The weather was just great, everything was fantastic," said Wallace on Monday morning.

Participants walked, ran, biked and in-line skated around the 5 km course through town and afterwards were treated to entertainment from John Roy, Michael Biggins, Alan Small, Robert Malloch and Tracy McNally's Golden Town Cloggers.

"The Terry Fox Run just keeps growing every year which is great," said Wallace. "The people in Meaford have big hearts and deep pockets, compared to other areas we're always higher," he added. In Ontario this year the run raised a record $7.7 million for cancer research - up more than $1 million over last year.

"Once again, the people of Ontario have shown their support for Terry," said Darrell Fox, Terry's brother and national director of the Terry Fox Foundation. "The incredible reception Terry received when he ran through the province and the continued success of the Run is a credit to the great people of this province, especially the thousands of volunteers who organize these events," he added.

Wallace added that the organization still has plenty of tee-shirts celebrating the 20th anniversary of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope available for run participants. Should anybody wish to acquire a shirt they are asked to contact him at 538-1081.