“I actually doubted that it might take place, but how can I do that? Terry (Fox) ran on rain, snow, and sleet every day, what do small rains can do in an event like this in Doha?” said Canadian ambassador Adrian Norfolk in his speech.
The envoy joined his compatriots and other participants, including young children, at the family run, walk and bike event. The course was a 2km lap around the CNA-Q campus, offering distances of two, four, six, eight and 10km.
Norfolk described the Run as “an event of hope and joy,” which reaped significant results with its fund drive for cancer research, giving hope to cancer patients worldwide.
Citing an interview with Terry’s brother on TV in a similar event in Canada, he said cancer patients now have an 80% chance of survival without losing a leg compared to 30% some 37 years ago when Terry was diagnosed with the disease.
“We are seeing advances, the money that is being raised today and the goodwill and the thoughts that you are all thinking today, will only help,” the envoy added.
John Little, CNA-Q instructor and organiser for Terry Fox Run, told Gulf Times that they have raised more than QR1mn in 13 years of organising the event.
The annual event averages between 600 and 700 participants, and the highest number was around 1,800, according to Little.
“We always hope for more, we are really grateful for everybody who contributed,” he said. “But the big thing is not only the money but the participation, the more people we can get out here doing this the better because it raises awareness, it gets people thinking and talking about it.”
Lee Willis, instructor at CNA-Q, and his family have been regularly participating with his family to mark Terry’s heroism and all his accomplishments.
Like any other Canadian, Willis said they are fully supporting the cause and want to makes sure their children remember Terry and what he stood for.
He believes that one of the biggest accomplishments of the Run is raising awareness, bringing people together who have a common cause and to help those who have the disease.
Kevin Sage, a Canadian who teaches at the American School of Doha, echoed Willis’ statement saying the Run is one of the most important events for Canadians which “brings together Canadians from coast to coast and overseas.”
“The Run’s success is how long it has gone, how people have embraced the story of Terry Fox,” he said. “It is an amazing and unique story, which is part of the biggest thing, it’s just kept going it gets bigger and bigger every year, it’s a tremendous tribute to him.”
Terry Fox is known as a young Canadian hero, who at 19 lost his leg on cancer. When he was getting his cancer treatment, he saw how young cancer patients bear the pain of the disease and decided to run across Canada to raise awareness on cancer.
He made 143 marathons in a row (143 days) before he stopped running due to lung cancer. By the time he finished at 5,373kms, he had to go to the hospital where he died of cancer at the age of 22.
This event has captured the attention of the world since it started in 1981, and there are several Terry Fox Runs globally each year. Terry specified that all proceeds raised in his honour must stay in the community where they are raised.
