Barbara Latkowski
Caledonia Courier
It was a sunny fall day in Fort St. James on Sept. 29 and the kids at David Hoy Elementary School were ready to run.
The entire school community made their way around the “Loop” in memory of Terry Fox, marking the 36th anniversary of his Marathon of Hope.
“It’s important that we keep this going,” said Eileen Bennison, a primary school teacher at the school.
“It’s all about building awareness and especially with our little ones, it becomes tradition and something that will continue in years to come,” Bennison said.
In 1980, after losing a leg to cancer, Terry Fox was determined to find a cure and embarked on a cross-country run to help raise money and awareness for cancer research.
He ran 42 kilometres a day but he was forced to stop his run in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The cancer had spread to his lungs and Fox died shortly after at the age of 22.
But 36 years later, his legacy remains strong as ever as communities all over Canada and around the world continue to celebrate his legacy.
In Fort St. James it was apparent that the kids at David Hoy were ready to make a difference as they walked and ran in his memory.
Many also proudly wore the names of loved ones who passed away or who are currently battling the disease as they walked and ran in their memory.
To date, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $650 million in support of cancer research since Fox took his first step.
For Fox, it was a single dream and for the kids at David Hoy Elementary School, it was all about keeping this dream alive on yet another successful Marathon of Hope.