Local students walk for cancer research at Terry Fox event

By Ry Clarke on September 24, 2022.

Elementary schools in the Lethbridge School Division put the right foot forward Friday morning heading to Nicholas Sheran Park to walk for Terry Fox and his legacy.

Teachers and Students from Mike Mountain Horse, Dr. Gerald B. Probe, Coalbanks, and Nicholas Sheran Elementary high-fived and cheered one-another as they passed by sharing a connection through the walk.

“It’s an annual walk that we haven’t been able to do for two years (due to the COVID-19 pandemic). It’s great to be able to be out here again and to build with our community,” said Bernadine Boulet who teaches grade two at Probe Elementary.

“All week we have had Toonies-for-Terry, kids brought in donations, and we have been talking about how the funds for the Terry Fox Foundation have made a difference for people’s lives. By creating research which has led to less disabilities and cures for some types of cancer.”

Teachers have found though the information is a heavy topic, the kids are receptive and know how they are helping.

“It’s a tough topic to talk about,” said Jordan Logen teaching grade one – two at Probe Elementary. “Raising awareness towards cancer and the research, the students do a good job of sensing the severity of the subject and understanding that it is a serious topic. When all the schools get together, it builds that peace of feeling like you belong to a bigger cause.”

Cancer affects around two in five Canadians during their lifetime, and to show their support and understanding students wore name tags to show who they represented during the walk.

“They can say who they are walking in memory for, if someone they know had cancer or is battling cancer right now,” said Bryanne Koster, a substitute with LSD.

“It’s really exciting to see the kids pull out their tags that say ‘I’m fighting for’ and who they have written down.”

Walking for the cause, students rounded the park with cheers from their peers to keep spirits high, raising awareness and money for the fight against cancer.

“Raising awareness around who Terry Fox was, what the Marathon of Hope was, and what Terry did for all of Canada,” said Logen.

“We bring that to the classroom and try to raise that empathy in the students, trying to make sure that they understand that it’s more than us, it’s about the cause.”