Beaches Terry Fox Run set for Sunday, Sept. 15, along the Boardwalk
By ALAN SHACKLETON
Organizers of this year’s Toronto-Beaches Terry Fox Run are grateful for the huge community support of the run since 1982, and are looking forward to hosting this year’s run on Sunday, Sept. 15.
The run begins at Woodbine Beach Park, 1675 Lake Shore Blvd. E., at 9 a.m. and participants are welcome to join in anytime up to 1 p.m. In-person registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 15 at the pavilion across from the Woodbine Beach Bathing Station. Those planning to take part are also encouraged to register in advance at https://run.terryfox.ca/55940
Jessica Tepper and Bridget Keroglidis are the volunteer organizers for the Terry Fox Run in the Beach.
Keroglidis has been involved with the local run as an organizer since 2022, and has personal experience of dealing with the fight against cancer as it took her mother’s life.
She said the theme of the 2024 Terry Fox Run, which is No Matter What, is especially meaningful to her.
““I love this year’s theme because it highlights the resilience of Terry Fox, and his strength and courage. Terry said we were going to have a world without cancer ‘No Matter What’,” said Keroglidis.
Tepper has been involved with the Beaches Terry Fox Run for the past three years, and said the participation of so many community members makes the job of organizing the event a rewarding one.
“It’s really quite amazing the support, and to see how many people come out. They bring their families, their kids and dogs. Whole families take part from the youngest child to grandparents and it’s a real tradition for them,” said Tepper.
“It’s not just for runners but for the full family. I can’t wait to see all that support again this year.”
Keroglidis said dogs (and their owners) are a big part of the run and are always welcome. “We love to see the puppies,” she said.
One of the reasons for the strong local support of the run is not just that it has been taking place for more than 40 years, but that the Beaches Terry Fox Run has also always taken place in the same location.
It starts on the Boardwalk just west of the Woodbine Bathing Station and continues westward into Ashbridges Bay Park and then loops back to the starting point.
Everyone is welcome to take part in the Beaches Terry Fox Run as it is accessible for runners, walkers, cyclists, people using wheelchairs and people pushing strollers. Those taking part can choose to do either a five or a 10-kilometre route.
The Beaches Terry Fox Run alone has raised more than $2.3 million for cancer research since it first started in 1982, said Keroglidis.
Nationally, with hundreds of runs across Canada each year, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised in excess of $850 million.
“And that goes so far to fund cancer research. There’s cross-Canada co-ordination and researchers share their information,” said Keroglidis.
“It’s so important we keep this research going as it has made a huge difference, and our cancer survival rates are so much better now.”
Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope to raise awareness of and funding for cancer research in 1980. The run started in April in Newfoundland and saw Fox run for 143 days, through six provinces, and covering 5,373 kilometres.
Fox had to end his run on Sept. 1, 1980 just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The cancer he had had returned and he was unable to continue the run. Fox died in June of 1981 at the age of 22.
The first Terry Fox Run in his memory was held in September of 1981.
Keroglidis said that along with participating in the run, she is hoping residents will also share their stories as to why they are running.
“People want to share their stories with us and it really inspires us to do this work of organizing the run,” she said. “It’s important to us and we want to highlight their stories.”
For more information, and to register or make a donation to the Toronto-Beaches Terry Fox Run, please go to https://run.terryfox.ca/55940
