On Friday, Sept. 22, students from Lindale Elementary School and École Ducharme walked and ran to support the Terry Fox Foundation in Moose Jaw.
Friday’s event was the continuation of an earlier effort on Sept. 17 that took place at Vanier Collegiate and saw more than 100 participants show up for the cause.
In a show of support, local police officer Const. Hoffman representing the Community and Strategic Services Unit of the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) was in attendance.
She said the purpose was to show support from the MJPS toward the community. “It wasn’t about me being there; it was just important that I was a part of it,” explained Const. Hoffman. One of the unit's goals is to maintain a positive relationship with Moose Jaw's school system.
When Terry Fox started his Marathon of Hope, his stated goal was to raise $1 for every Canadian in the quest to fight cancer. Today, 43 years later, the fight continues and thanks to ongoing support, more than $850 million has been raised since he began in April 1980.
“The Terry Fox Run is an annual charity held across the world to raise money and awareness for cancer,” Const. Hoffman said, noting that she was honoured to help support the cause.
Const. Hoffman was invited by the schools to participate, and she gladly accepted the offer.
“I got invited to attend, and I really appreciate being invited to take part in such an important event. I think it’s important to remember the inspiration of Terry Fox and raise awareness for such an important cause,” Const. Hoffman said.
The event began with a general assembly at each school. “Leading up to the Terry Fox Run, there was an assembly or presentation beforehand,” Const. Hoffman explained. Following this, students went outside and took part in a brief walk and run to support the cause.
“It was a walk and a run, just near the schools,” said Const. Hoffman, who attended both École Ducharme’s morning run, and Lindale Elementary School’s afternoon run. In both cases, the entire school participated in smaller groups that began their runs consecutively.
Thanks to a recent warm trend in the weather, students were met with an exceptionally welcoming 22-degree fall day.
Students at both schools were quite excited to see a member of the MJPS in attendance, and her presence undoubtedly helped raise spirits and remind students of the importance of the event.
“Most of the students were happy to see me,” said Const. Hoffman.
Given the prevalence of cancer in the modern world, almost everyone can say they have a loved one or know of someone touched by the disease.
“Some of the students ran for their own loved ones, where others ran for Terry Fox,” Const. Hoffman explained. She noted that her presence was not meant to be the focal point of the run, and that she wanted to help support the cause as well.
The participation from both elementary schools was a great symbol of Moose Jaw’s charitable nature. “It was awesome seeing how many people came together to pay tribute to Terry Fox,” Const. Hoffman reflected.
Students at École Ducharme helped raise funds for the charity, and they managed to surpass their stated goal of $300 by raising an impressive $350.
The Terry Fox Run is an annual event that has become a fall tradition in Canada. With a reach involving more than 650 communities across both official languages, the run is held in support of The Terry Fox Foundation.
The Terry Fox Foundation’s mission is to help raise funds used to further cancer research in an effort to find a cure. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, around 233,900 new cases of cancer and more than 85,000 cancer-related deaths are expected for 2023 alone.
“There can be no reason for me to stop,” Terry Fox said previously. “No matter what pain I suffer, it is nothing compared to the pain of those who have cancer, of those who endure treatment.”
For more information on the Terry Fox Run and the Terry Fox Foundation, visit the foundation’s website at TerryFox.org.
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