The Terry Fox Run in Prince Albert saw a dramatic increase in funds raised for the 2024 edition, which began at the Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon.
The event saw 76 runners raise an unofficial total of $33,720.80, which was an increase over last year’s total of $29,1010.50. Cancer survivor Chelsea Mitchell and her sister Cassidy Mitchell carried the Terry Fox Run flag to Ninth Avenue before letting walkers and runners’ pass. Runners and walkers could take either the 2K, 5K or 10K routes.
Longtime committee member Vern Hodgins has been a part of every Terry Fox Run. He said the event has been growing almost every year thanks to technological innovation.
“The number of people doing online donations has just increased dramatically,” he explained. “The Terry Fox Foundation said it’s something like 71 per cent of their donations now are online.”
Hodgins said that the Terry Fox Run received a generous donation from the Dutchak family after the passing of Brenda Dutchak earlier in the week. He would not give the specific amount but wanted their generosity to be recognized.
He also thanked volunteers for donating their time.
“We’ve got nice weather, (and) I think we’ll have a really good total for what we’re seeing online that’s coming in,” he said.
This was Hodgins 44th Terry Fox Run. Hodgins also wanted to acknowledge that committee member Chris Ferchuk was also in his 44th year.
“We have two of us in this, in this city,” Hodgins said.
Hodgins initially got involved because he enjoyed spreading Terry Fox’s message of hope.
“I love teaching the message of Terry Fox about his perseverance and never giving up and hope and all that,” Hodgins explained. “I loved to teach that to my school kids and I really didn’t think much about raising money. But after I retired, relatives who have cancer, now I am fighting cancer, I have gotten a lot more serious about raising money.”
Mitchell is a childhood cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in July 2013 when she was only 12 years old.
“I’m a survivor. I’ve seen first-hand how cancer affects people and we’re just losing too many people,” Mitchell said. “This is one way to help raise funds to get better treatments, better cures, as I’m still living with adverse effects to keep the treatments that were available when I was sick in 2013-2014.
“That’s what the point of this is. We’re trying to raise funds for not only a cure, but better treatment options to prevent all these long-term side effects,” she said.
After her diagnosis, Chelsea joined Small But Mighty, a childhood cancer fundraiser.
Since recovering, Chelsea and her family have often taken part in the Prince Albert Relay for Life. Each year she takes part in the Small But Mighty Walk in Saskatoon and this year it landed the day before the Prince Albert Terry Fox Run.
“We did that yesterday and just listening to the stories—because we have three people that present every year—the different adverse effects and how they’re going to be affecting them for their whole lives just raising these funds will help with that,” she said.
Mitchell has also recently completed training for a job in the medical field and views it as a way to pay her own survival forward.
She explained that being part of Relay For Life, the Terry Fox Run and the Small But Mighty Walk all are her ways to give back.
“I’ve been part of it since I was diagnosed,” Mitchell said. “(I’m) just trying to raise funds, give back anyway I can. I’m doing whatever I can in my power to give back because it’s a great cause.”
The Mitchell family were among the many runners and walkers who came out to raise money and celebrate the legacy of Terry Fox.
On April 12, 1980, the then 22-year-old Fox dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic Ocean and began his trek across the country. He averaged 42 km a day through six provinces.
Fox was forced to stop running on Sept. 1 in Thunder Bay, Ont. when cancer spread to his lungs.
Mayor Greg Dionne brought greetings on behalf of the city and told of his own fight with cancer.
Honourary Chair Dennis Ogrodnick spoke before the walk and told the story of his journey since he was diagnosed with cancer.
Hodgins said that they are already looking ahead to the next Terry Fox Run. Ideally, he’d like to find more volunteers who can help keep the event going.
There were several members of Terry’s Team in red shirts including Hodgins, former honourary chair Chantale Fetch and Ogrodnick.
The Prince Albert run took place at Little Red River Park when it first began, before moving to City Hall, the Harry Jerome Track and now the Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse.
According to the Terry Fox Foundation, more than $850 million has been raised for cancer research.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
