Terry Fox Run stays virtual for second year in a row

Terry Fox Run stays virtual for second year in a row
(Photo : Courtesy)

By Michael Boriero

The Terry Fox Run is scheduled to take place on Sept.19, however, due to the ongoing pandemic, communities in the Eastern Townships organizing the nationwide event will once again be forced to go to a virtual platform.
Last year, both Richmond and Lennoxville, who handle the annual fundraiser in the region, ran the event online, asking people to avoid heading out in large crowds, and instead sticking to close family and friends in their respective neighbourhoods.
Terry Fox Foundation Provincial Director Peter Sheremeta told The Record that he witnessed a 13 per cent decrease in donations in 2020, compared to 2019, which he chalks up as a win, given the circumstances. And he is already seen an increase this year across Quebec.
“The vast majority of communities are going virtual again this year, so that’s what’s happening. Now, I don’t know how it’s going to go, but I can say that as of two days ago, we were up 30 per cent as compared to this point last year in the province in the communities,” he said.
According to Sheremeta, the foundation left it in the hands of each community to decide whether they wanted to hold a small in-person event or not, basing it off the measures established by their local health authority. But most have opted to go virtual.
Richmond’s organizer Joe Kelly said it will look identical to last year. It is an individual effort, he explained, so people are expected to map out their own walks or runs. He is also selling t-shirts as part of the fundraiser, and several people are collecting bottles and cans.
He also mentioned that the Wales Home, a retirement facility in the area, held a carpet bowling fundraiser for the foundation because of construction work on their grounds. His sister, a cancer survivor, lives there, and the fundraiser has always been close to his heart.
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