Terry Fox Run takes place this Sunday at fire hall

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer

Claresholm has never quit on the Terry Fox Run.
As other communities have lost their runs, Claresholm is the only community that still has a Terry Fox Run between Lethbridge and High River.
In fact, Claresholm has had a Terry Fox Run every year since they began in 1981. That is a total of 42 years, and Claresholm has never quit.
It is fitting then, the theme of this year’s Terry Fox Run is, “I’m not a quitter.”
This year’s run will start at 2 p.m. this Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Claresholm Fire Hall.
“Claresholm has been such a constant supporter of this run all these years,” said organizer Debbie Lozeman. “We should be very proud of that.”
The route is the same as in past years.
The route crosses Highway 520 or 43rd Avenue West, going down Westlynn Drive to Eighth Street by the Willow Creek Continuing Care Centre, turning south or left past the cemetery, acreages and going to the four-way stop corner then turning around and coming back. It’s about eight kilometres in total.
Lozeman said people can do any distance any way they like, whether it is running, walking, riding their bike, bringing their dog or any other way.
”Enjoy an afternoon supporting Terry Fox and his legacy,” she said.
Fox began his Marathon of Hope in 1980, striving to run across Canada, raising one dollar for each person in Canada for cancer research.
He had lost a leg to cancer and ran the equivalent of a marathon a day on a rudimentary prosthetic leg. The cancer reappeared in his lungs, and he was forced to stop his run outside Thunder Bay, Ontario.
He passed away in June of 1981, and that September, the first Terry Fox Runs were held across Canada.
Everyone who participated last year should have received a pledge sheet and information in the mail.
People can download pledge sheets from the Terry Fox Run website at terryfox.org, clicking on “Terry Fox Run” then “Resources”, scrolling down to “Forms and more” and clicking on “Pledge sheet”. They can also call Lozeman for pledge sheets.
“Claresholm has been so amazing,” Lozeman said. “We are one of the smallest towns to raise the most.
“And we’ve stuck with it.”
Lozeman invites everyone to participate in the Terry Fox Run.
“Come out to continue Terry’s dream,” she said.
Anyone interested in more information can contact Debbie Lozeman at 403-625-4084.