Bring family, a partner, or a friend, or come on your own and join other community members for the Terry Fox Run (or walk) this Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Registration takes place at the Huntsville High School between 8 and 9 a.m., but you can also register or donate online by clicking HERE.
This year marks the 44th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope. In recognition of Terry Fox Week (September 9-15), friends, supporters, and organizers attended a Terry Fox Community Run flag-raising at Town Hall on Monday, September 9.
When asked why she organizes the run year after year, Sharon Stahls said: “When I think of Terry Fox, it warms my heart when I think of him as an individual out there running day after day,” said Stahls, a former educator and school principal. “When I was teaching, I always used Terry Fox as a role model for our students while promoting character education because Terry had those qualities: he had perseverance, he had commitment, he had the ‘no matter what’ attitude, and I think we really need to instill that.”
Stahls had tears in her eyes as she remembered her mother, who died of cancer at 49 with seven children. She said there was very little in those days in the way of much gentler and kinder treatment for cancer, as well as preventative measures such as mammograms. She has been organizing the run to raise money for cancer research and treatment for more than 40 years.
“I just want people to know that they’re making a difference. Every single dollar counts—it all goes to cancer research, so it’s really a great organization to raise funds for,” said Stahls.
When asked about those who are disheartened that after all the fundraising and research, we still haven’t found a cure, Stahls explained that the research is enabling people with cancer to live with the disease. “We may never find a cure for cancer, but at least we won’t die from cancer. We’re going to learn how to live with it.”
She is encouraging everyone to attend the September 15 event at the high school and come together as a community.
This year’s goal is to raise $20,000 in Huntsville, and at the time of publishing this story, $19,265 had been raised.
Celebrating cancer survivors Carl Nelson (37+ years), Eva Johnston (6 years), and Nancy Fielding (20 years).
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