Earlier this week, Terry Fox Run Organzier Syliva Masich said she was hoping for 200 participants and set a “soft goal of $4,000” raised for cancer research.
Today (Sunday) in Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, the 2024 Terry Fox Run surpassed both goals.
“Last year the run came together in less than two weeks, and we had about 100 participants,” Masich said.
“This year, I’d say we’re pushing probably 300 participants, and it was just incredible watching everyone walk down Taylor Drive and it was just a mob of people, so I’m honoured and speechless.”
Masich said they had more than $5,000 in online donations, in addition to the donations made at the event.
Masich put together last year’s event in about two weeks after finding out no one was putting it on.
She said having the full year to prepare made all the difference.
“We’ve incorporated lawn signs this year so people got lawn signs, we’re going to bring that again next year, even bigger and better,” she explained.
“I’ve had a chance to talk about it on social media more, and it’s had a chance to be actually be talked about, which is great, and it’s made such a huge difference.”
Prince George has a connection to Terry Fox and the Marathon of Hope, but the connection goes a little bit deeper for Masich.
It was her grandfather, Tom Masich, who gave both Fox and Rick Hansen the green light to participate in the Prince George to Boston Marathon in 1979.
“He re-routed part of the course for them so they didn’t have to go up the staircase on Connaught Hill and that includes the part that people are running on along Patricia Boulevard and along Taylor Drive,” Masich explained.
It was then that Terry Fox decided he was ready to run across Canada.
“To have that connection to a Canadian hero is something we should all be proud about.”
Masich added perparations are already underway for next year.
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