Loading....
x
tracey tong/ metro ottawa
John Hooper’s statue of Terry Fox is pictured against the Peace Tower yesterday. Thousands of people are expected to participate in 28th annual Terry Fox Run events to be held in Ottawa Sunday.
Thousands of Ottawans are expected to join runners and walkers around the country in one of Canada’s most famous cancer research fundraisers this Sunday.
The Terry Fox story touches people everywhere, said Jerri Southcott, co-chair of the Ottawa Terry Fox Run. “He is a Canadian hero,” said Southcott. “We get runners and participants who have been doing it since Day One.”
In its 28th year, the run is staged at 230 events provincewide, including in Ottawa this weekend at Carleton University, the Canadian Health and Squash Club in Kanata and Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School in Orleans.
Although Terry Fox died in 1981 from a rare bone cancer, his legacy continues to resonate.
“The idea that he ran a marathon a day on one leg made people believe that they can do anything,” Southcott said.
Melody Lemaire stopped to take a photo of the Terry Fox statue yesterday at Wellington and Metcalfe streets.
“You learn about him in school and do runs with your class every year,” she said. “(He’s) a part of Canadian history.”
The Carleton run starts at 9 a.m. at Anniversary Park and follows a 10-kilometre route on Colonel By Drive along the Rideau Canal. Participants are encouraged to earn pledges.
“A dollar from every Canadian is really what it’s all about,” said Southcott.
Since the event began, more than $400 million has been raised worldwide for research.
more local stories
Latest B.C. avalanche kills two French nationals in provincial park
VALEMONT, B.C. - A third deadly B.C. avalanche in a week killed two French skiers Saturday as they were coming down a mountain after being dropped off by helicopter.
House panel may review Afghan documents
OTTAWA - Setting up a special committee of senior parliamentarians to examine sensitive documents about Afghan detainees could help defuse a brewing political crisis over access to the information, intelligence experts say.
One of two winning 6/49 tickets sold near London
TORONTO - One of two winning ticket's for Saturday's $41-million lottery jackpot was sold in the London, Ont., area.
Public sector workers take to Montreal streets
MONTREAL - Thousands of public sector workers flooded the streets of downtown Montreal Saturday to remind Quebec the clock is ticking on their collective agreements.
Police make second arrest in theft from Toronto hospital deathbed
TORONTO - Police have arrested a second man in a string of thefts at Toronto hospitals, including one victim who was on her deathbed.
editor's picks
In twitosphere, are the funny, famous in it for tweets, or do they also follow?
Twitter is so many things to so many people: infomercial, backyard fence, brain dump. The funny, famous, famous for the wrong reasons or simply very useful have thousands of followers, but who do THEY follow?
The clock may be ticking on CBC's '22 minutes
HALIFAX, N.S. - Is the clock ticking on "22 Minutes"?
NBC behind him, Conan O'Brien in talks with Fox
NEW YORK - The next few months could keep Conan O'Brien very busy.
Facebook users warned about email scam
Another email scam is circulating online trying to ensnare unsuspecting Facebook users into divulging all their passwords.
Thai PM objects to blood-spilling, but open to talks
BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's prime minister said Thursday the government was ready to hold talks with protesters, who want him to call new elections, but only if they stop throwing blood, blocking government offices and remain peaceful.
Copyright 2001-2010, Free Daily News Group Inc.