With pandemic restrictions the last two years forcing the event to be held online, the Beaches-East York welcomed back the Terry Fox run as an in-person event on Sept. 18.
One of the teams participating this year in the Mississauga Meadowvale Run was Aashna’s Angels. In 2007, Jatin Dhingra’s younger sister Aashna was diagnosed with the same osteosarcoma cancer that Terry Fox had. Aashna died at the age of seven, in 2009.
Erika Emerson-Wiley has been participating in the Terry Fox Run at High Park in Toronto ever since she can remember. However, for the last 13 years, she has joined as a survivor.
Jean Domagale was one of hundreds of people who came out for the Beaches event of the Terry Fox Run on Sunday. This year was the 38th annual run, the first being held on September 13, 1981. Domagale used to volunteer for the Beaches-Riverdale Canadian Cancer Society.
Maria Fong, 55, was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2016. She later learned that it spread to the bone. She didn't have any symptoms, but tests for a fractured vertebra revealed the diagnosis.
Her experiences with cancer, and the treatments she's been undergoing to deal with it, convinced her to put on her walking shoes last Sunday and participate in the Terry Fox Run for the first time in her life.
"I feel blessed that I'm able to do this walk today," she said.
On Sept. 19, a morning full of sunshine, the annual Terry Fox Run took place all over Canada. Scarborough residents came out to Cedarbrook Park on Markham Road and Old Kingston Road in West Hill to continue Terry’s run to raise awareness for cancer research.
Canadian NBA star Steve Nash made his film debut with his documentary about Terry Fox on Sunday, September 12 at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette and Slovenian cross-country skier Petra Majdic, both Olympic bronze medallists, have been named the joint recipients of the Vancouver 2010 Terry Fox Award.