This year's 33rd annual Terry Fox Run/Walk in Olds for cancer research takes place Sunday, Sept. 14, starting from Centennial Park. Registration is at 12 p.m. and the run begins at 1 p.m.
The run/walk begins at the gazebo in Centennial Park.
“The route is all mapped out. It goes west, kind of around the Deer Meadow area and then back,” says Grace Fletch. She and her husband Don have organized the run/walk in Olds for the past 23 years.
“It's a five-K (kilometre) walk and you can do it twice,” Fletch says. “It's bike friendly, stroller friendly, dogs, kids, anything. There will be signs on the route and we have maps available at the registration site. It's the same route that we've had for the past three or four years, so most of the people that are coming are probably long-timers.”
Fletch says the run/walk will go rain or shine. If it does rain (or snow, or hail) there are no plans to take the event indoors.
“We've done it in the snow, we've done it in all conditions, so anybody who wants to come – rain or shine – we're out in the weather. There's no backup indoor facility,” Fletch says.
Usually about 50 people participate in the Terry Fox Run/Walk in Olds. Lately, they've raised more than $6,000 each year.
“We're aiming for a little higher always but we're happy with whatever we get,” Fletch says.
Last year, the number of participants and the amount raised was down. About 35 people participated, raising about $6,715 for cancer research.
More than $600 million has been raised via the run and walk since it was first held in 1981. The Terry Fox Foundation supports more than $20 million in research work each year in Canada.
Fletch says a few years ago, a couple of women really raised the bar.
“They went to every house in town and they raised probably $8,000 by themselves,” she says. “We've had some wonderful years and we've had some that weren't so good. We're just happy with whoever comes out.”
This year, three local residents have challenged each other to see who can raise the most money for cancer research via the Terry Fox Run. They are: Olds Albertan Publisher Murray Elliott, Melanie Hepp of CKFM, and Dean Owen of BRASSmedia.
Elliott is confident he'll beat his fellow challengers easily.
“It's not really a contest,” he says.
Grace Fletch says she and Don keep organizing the run and walk as their contribution to the Olds community.
“It's kind of our way of giving back. We've had a pretty good life in Olds and my dad is a cancer survivor. And everybody knows somebody (who has or has had cancer),” she says.
Fletch says she began organizing the Terry Fox Run/Walk by stepping into the breach.
“I was actually helping a friend when somebody else was organizing it. Then they decided not to and I just kind of got the job and I just stayed with it,” she says.
“I love it; the fact that it's helping so many people,” she says. “Ultimately there will be some time when this thing will be beaten and I'd like to think I had a part in helping get the money raised to do that.”
