Wallaceburg is gearing up for the annual Terry Fox Run on Sunday, and some new organizers are stepping up to run the event.
Moira and Brad Eggett, owners of New Vision Optical in Wallaceburg, have been handed the baton by long-time organizers Doug and Leah McArthur.
Moira Eggett told the Sydenham Current that her and her husband have been involved in the run for many years, and are thrilled to be taking over for the McArthur’s.
“We have been involved participating for many years,” she said. “Brad, my husband, has been involved for basically most of the time that we have lived in Wallaceburg.”
Eggett said the Wallaceburg event will start at the usual location, Civic Square Park in downtown Wallaceburg.
Registration is at 9 a.m. and the run starts at 10 a.m.
“In Wallaceburg it is listed as a 1K, 2.5k, 5k and a 10k run. However, the goal is participation,” she said.
“When I say to somebody ‘are you coming out for the Terry Fox Run?’ Nine out of 10 people say ‘I don’t run.’ You don’t have to run. That is just what is it called. That is what Terry did, but we just want participation. So if you are pushing a stroller or somebody is in a wheelchair, or if somebody wants to ride a bike or roller blade… it’s not a run, you don’t have to be a runner or a jogger.”
Eggett said they will have a a table with six people taking in pledge sheets at the event.
“People who did go solely online, can just right down their names so that we can go in and check and make sure everything is good that way,” she said.
“But, you can just show up. I guess too if somebody is not interested in the run and they just want to make a donation, the table will be there to take that as well.”
Eggett said the online registration is easy to complete.
“Then you can just send a link out through social media and people just literally click on that and it gets them right to your page. You can sponsor somebody that way,” Eggett said.
Actual pledge forms are available at New Vision Optical, Taylor’s Variety, The Black Goose, Westbrook’s Flower Shoppe, and 99.1.
There are also Terry Fox t-shirts available at New Vision.
Eggett said in 2016, the Wallaceburg run raised just over $10,000 and they had 130 participants.
There will be drinks available at the run for participants, along with some items from Tim Hortons.
“Brad and I aren’t native ‘Wallaceburgers’. We are transplants, but we find the people of Wallaceburg, whenever it comes to events, it is unbelievable how supportive they are,” she said.
“They just step up to the plate. They are there. Taking this over has just been great.”
To donate to the Wallaceburg run and for more details, click here.
– Submitted photo
