The Terry Fox Run in Whistler attracted more than 275 participants and raised well over $5,000 through registration donations and other event-related fundraising initiatives at the Four Seasons Whistler Resort this weekend.
The event in Whistler was just one of 120 registered charity runs held across B.C.
Run bike riders Bill Deeks and Brohm Peterson attended with their parents and couldn’t wait to get started.
Participants of all ages with varying levels of athletic ability participated in the event. A number of training groups used the run as part of their regular fitness schedule. Fraser Doak, Michael Murdoch and Sam Johnston incorporated race into their dry land training as part of their preparation for the cross-country ski season ahead.
Mark Warner and Roger Ennis paced each other across the finish line and introduced themselves as they cooled down in the finish area.
“My best friend’s dad passed away on Friday from lymphoma so why not?” said Warner after he was asked what brought him out to run.
Ennis said he has known many people whose lives were taken by cancer.
“This is the 29th run I’ve done so I’ve got a tradition and have to keep going,” said Ennis. “I’ve never run this route before. I usually do Stanley Park but I think I’ll change.”
The run in Whistler started and finished at the Four Seasons Resort. The hotel hosted the event and provided participants with water, energy drinks and food.
David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada was named as the patron of the Terry Fox Foundation earlier this week. Johnston participated in the Terry Fox Run held in Ottawa.
The Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $600 million for cancer research worldwide through the annual Terry Fox Run, the National School Run Day and other fundraising initiatives.
A $5 donation can by made to the foundation by sending a text message to 45678. Type “terryfox” into the body of the message to complete the donation. Donations for the Whistler race were still being taken as new participants arrived after the official start time of 11 a.m.
There’s more Terry Fox information at www.terryfox.org.
