The Terry Fox Foundation is searching for someone to rise to the occasion as this year’s organizer of the Cochrane Terry Fox Run.
The event organizer would be helping carry on Fox’s legacy, 42 years after he set out on his Marathon of Hope from the easternmost edge of Canada in 1980.
“Our greatest strength is the extraordinary team of Terry Fox volunteers that span from coast-to-coast, a human chain linked by a common purpose – to make a positive difference in the fight against cancer,” reads a June 7 press release from the foundation.
Cochrane has hosted a local Terry Fox Run every year since 1986, raising over $210,00 for cancer research in that time.
The organizer of last year’s run, Lesley Hunt, said coordinating the event was a fulfilling experience. She’s been a supporter of the run since her school-aged years.
“Meeting all the families and hearing people’s stories and how they’re connected to Terry Fox was amazing,” she said. “The community aspect and being able to connect with people through the organization is the most rewarding part.”
Hunt made the decision to step down as organizer this year with a new baby at home, but said she’ll still be running and helping volunteer where she can.
She also said she would like to see a committee of volunteers form to organize the run together, as opposed to one person. Larger communities and cities across Canada commonly form committees to better delegate the needs, according to Hunt.
Last year, she and Paul Cox, a long-time volunteer with the Terry Fox Foundation who helps with the Calgary version of the run, set up a tent at Mitford Park to spread the word about forming a committee prior to the event.
“We stayed there for a couple hours and we didn’t have anybody stop,” said Hunt. “We were a little bit sad about that.”
Hunt stressed the event is not overwhelming to organize, but it sometimes calls for extra hands and expertise, such as when promoting the event on social media.
“With a committee, we could delegate some of these different responsibilities,” she said. “Someone who has good communication skills can write the asking letters for sponsors and someone else can put up posters – that sort of thing.
“Plus, it would be fun to get together with a group of people to collaborate with.”
According to the press release, the Terry Fox Foundation works closely with the volunteer chair and provides support, training, and materials to ensure the success of the run.
The foundation is also making a call for event volunteers to help with the run on the day of the event, which will be Sept. 18.
Anyone interested in volunteering as run organizer or to volunteer on the day of the event, can reach out to Christie Krawchuk, the foundation’s community development coordinator in Alberta, at [email protected].
Those interested in getting involved to form an organizing committee can reach out to Hunt via her email, [email protected].
