Parkland Ambulance won the annual Terry Fox Relay for the first time in five years when the annual fundraiser was held at the Prince Albert Collegiate Institute (PACI) track on Saturday.
Parkland knocked off the defending champion Prince Albert Police Service and the Prince Albert Fire Department to claim the annual relay title.
Chris Pacey of Parkland Ambulance ran the anchor leg and said that knocking off the defending champion PAPS was important for his team.
“I ran in it five years ago, the last time Parkland won,” Pacey said. “I took a hiatus and we finally dethroned the police, which is huge.”
Before the race began, each emergency service made a $500 donation to the Terry Fox Foundation. The race kick-started the local campaign leading up to the Terry Fox Run on Sept. 15. The funds raised will go towards the Terry Fox Foundation for Cancer Research.
Getting together for a great cause such as cancer research with fellow first responders was also important to Pacey.
“It’s all of us, right, all the emergency services,” he said. “It’s our little part to give back and it’s huge, to come together in a more positive setting and of course raise money for a good cause. It’s really nice.”
The legacy of Terry Fox is also important to Pacey
“He’s a Canadian staple himself and really provides that hope for those that are undergoing treatment and really someone to look up to at the end,” he said.
Instead of being run in a traditional fashion the 4 X 100 relay was run on one stretch of the track with the baton handed off at either end. The track was also gravel and dirt instead of paved like at the traditional location Harry Jerome Track. Pacey though the new track made a difference.
“It was soft this year. I’m hoping it will be at the Harry Jerome Track next year. It definitely played a huge role in some of the speed out there today,” Pacey said.
The winning team received a trophy donated by Malcolm Jenkins eight years ago which replaced the original trophy.
Wade Fehr has been running the Terry Fox Relay for the Prince Albert Fire Department for five years and the Legacy of Terry Fox is also important to him.
“Sadly, like most Canadians and people around the world, cancer has touched all of our lives. Some of us, it’s been deeper than others. My wife is a cancer survivor so events like this are just close to my heart and I am just so happy to be a part of it,” he said.
“Sadly, cancer is a part of a lot of Firefighter’s lives, it’s a common thing later in life for a lot of firefighters. Just raising more awareness and any research that can be done is just huge for all of our futures.”
Relay and Terry Fox Run organizer Vern Hodgins thanked the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division for their work preparing the PACI track. He also thanked PACI Principal Dave Lockinger for allowing the relay to use storage space in the school.
The Terry Fox Run for cancer research takes place on Sunday, Sept. 15. Participants can walk, jog, run or wheel and can also choose the distance you want to go, 2, 5 or 10 km. A route will be marked out starting at the Alfred Jenkins Field House with a group start at 1:00 pm. Register between 12:15 and 1 pm.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
