After just two weeks of preparation, the Terry Fox Run was held in Prince George this morning. (Sunday)
Sylvia Masich started to organize the event after finding out no one would be putting it on this year.
Masich’s grandfather Tom Masich, who passed away one year ago tomorrow (Sept. 18th), helped Terry Fox get started on his Marathon of Hope.
“He started the Prince George to Boston Marathon, and in 1979, that’s the Marathon that Terry ran in where he decided ‘yes, I’m ready to run across Canada,'” she explained.
“My grandpa was the one who ultimately gave him the clear of ‘yes, you can participate in this, this is fine.’ Rick Hansen also participated that year, and part of the route was they had to go up the yellow, which is now blue, staircase beside Connaught Hill. Terry and Rick couldn’t do the staircase, so he rerouted part of the route for them.”
That route was replicated during this year’s run.
Masich also said it was during last year’s Terry Fox run when she and her family got the phone call her grandfather had passed away.
“I’ve had so many people tell me that’s such a storybook ending kind of way of him passing away on the Terry Fox Run, having played such an important role there,” she said.
“When I knew the run wasn’t happening, my heart just couldn’t let that happen.”
Masich said they’re planning to have the run organized in June next year, so the event will be bigger and better.
Smoky conditions blanketed the city during the run.
Masich made sure to encourage everyone participating to go at their own pace and stop if they needed to.
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