FLVT does annual Terry Fox run for cancer research

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on September 12, 2024.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Grade 2 students take part of the Terry Fox Blast Off Run along with their "Toonies for Terry" campaign to raise funds for the Terry Fox Foundation on Wednesday at Father Leonard Van Tighem School.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Students and staff at Father Leonard Van Tighem School took part in their annual Terry Fox Blast Off Run to raise awareness and funds for cancer research Wednesday.

After gathering at the school gymnasium where students and staff watched a video about Terry Fox’s journey across the country and how he raised funds for cancer research while doing so, Grade 9 students stood with their arms extended forming a tunnel for pre-Kindergartner, Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students to walk through it on their way to their run.

Steve Leger, teacher and athletic director at the school, said they have been hosting the event for more than a decade at the school and it is usually one of their best events of the school year.

“All the kids are super happy, there’s a lot of smiles on faces, it’s such a good way for us to start off the school year. It’s always our best Oh Canada of the year as well,” said Leger.

He said it is very important for the students and staff to learn about Terry Fox, his legacy and the importance of cancer research and they hope every year through the video and the events that follow that students get inspired.

“This run is a good way to inspire kids, bring attention to the Terry Fox Foundation and cancer research and also to celebrate Terry Fox himself as such an amazing Canadian,” said Leger.

Grade 7 student Jersey Stafford said she has been inspired by Terry Fox to get involved in running sports and to participate in the run in memory of someone dear to her heart.

“This run means a lot to me because I lost my grandmother to cancer. I wasn’t going to do this competitively but since she passed I decided to do it for her,” said Stafford.

Students not only took part in the run on Wednesday but also collected funds for the Terry Fox Foundation as they have done in previous years.

“This year we did loonies and toonies for Terry, so as the kids entered the gym they put their donations in a bucket and we will tally the amount at the end of the day to make the donation to the Terry Fox Foundation,” said Leger.

Because Father Leonard Van Tighem School has students from pre-k to Grade 9, many have been taking part of the Terry Fox Blast Off Run for many years. Such is the case of Ryder Vannistelrooy who is now in Grade 7 and said he has been taking part of the run since he was in Kindergarten.

“I’ve done the run seven times now, and it’s always so good. Terry Fox is so motivational and its good to raise funds for cancer research. I hope what we raise can help to fin a cure for it,” said Vannistelrooy.