The Terry Fox Run in Dresden has grown so much over the years, they are making an entire weekend out of it.
Cindy Brewer, the long-time organizer of the event, told the Sydenham Current that multiple events and activities are scheduled, leading up to Sunday’s big run.
“In Dresden we actually call it ‘Terry Fox Weekend’ because we have so much stuff going on,” Brewer said.
“Starting on Thursday North Kent Mutual is having a Positivity Day barbecue at the Claims Centre right in downtown Dresden. The proceeds for that will be going to a team of employees going from North Kent that are participating in the run. So it is going to help their fundraising.”
Brewer said on Thursday night, Mario’s Pizza Plus in Dresden is doing a fundraiser for cancer research.
They are donating $1 for each pizza ordered between 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Friday, the Dresden volunteer firefighters are hosting a ‘Lite Bite’ at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 113, with fundraising taking place for the Terry Fox Run, Brewer said.
On Saturday, the Dresden Kinsmen are also having a chicken and rib dinner fundraiser for cancer research at the Kinsmen Hall.
“We are going to continue to have, we call it our ‘Night Before Club’ and that is for people who are unable to attend on Sunday,” she said.
“We offer a causal, unmarked route. They can come to the Legion on Saturday night at 7 p.m. that night, register and turn in their pledge money. Then we just send you out on your unmarked route. It’s not all the fans there that exist on the Sunday, but it is cooler typically. It is great for people that are already booked for Sunday or that don’t like the sun. So it is a nice option for them to have.”
Brewer added: “It is great because these are our service clubs and organizations that host these events on their own. So it’s not even something that the committee is involved in. It’s just so wonderful to see the community comes out and supports us.”
The run itself is on Sunday, September 17 at the Dresden Legion from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“People can just show up, register and go,” Brewer said.
“You can also register online and get pledges online if you would like to. You just go online to at http://www.terryfox.org and look for where you are participating at. You register there and they send you a confirmation link and you just email that out to the contacts in your email and people can sponsor you online. They can do it automatically, there is no waiting and no cost to the Foundation. People that collect money online typically raise more than people who raise money on their own.”
Last year, the Dresden run raised over $32,000 and they had a little over 350 participants.
“We get a lot of families that come,” she said.
“Some of our participants have been participating since they were in strollers and they still come. Some come home form university and we have got some of our participants that are from our first year, elementary school kids, that now some of them are on my committee. It’s pretty cool. It is just a wonderful experience for people to come out. If they have never attended a Terry Fox Run before I would encourage them to go to http://www.terryfox.org find a run in their community and try it.”
Dresden participants have now collected $534,035.23 for cancer research since their first run in 1996.
The Dresden run has been atop the list of ‘Top 20 Ontario Community Runs’ per capita for the past two years.
– Photo credit: Cindy June Photography
– With files from Tami Eagen
