Remember Terry Fox this Sunday
Editorial

This coming Sunday will see the latest edition of an annual event; one that has become a staple of the early fall, both locally and all over the country, and in some places beyond.

Terry Fox Runs will be taking place in countless communities, including in King City.

In many ways, it's a fun event, but the underlying message is very serious. It sees people come together in a spirit of comradery and community involvement, but the real reason is the hope that such efforts might eventually lead to a cure for cancer.

Fighting cancer is a cause that should affect everyone, because the disease impacts on everyone.

How many of you reading these words can honestly say that cancer has not touched you? Have you had an acquaintance who has been diagnosed with cancer, or who has died of it? Maybe a close friend? Maybe a colleague at work? Maybe a parent? Maybe a sibling? Maybe a spouse? Maybe a child?

Worse still, maybe you've received the diagnosis yourself.

Terry Fox Runs have been raising lots of money over the years for cancer research. More than $210,000 has been realized just from the events in King City since the first one was held in 1984.

According to information from the Terry Fox Foundation, more than $400 million has been raised to date to assist researchers who are trying to deal with in excess of 200 diseases that are collectively known as cancer.

And progress is being made, although we are told the solution is going to be realized gradually, as opposed to a single "eureka!" moment.

Terry Fox had part of his right leg amputated in 1977 because of a form of bone cancer. The Terry Fox Foundation reports his chances for survival at the time were around 15 to 20 per cent. Had he been diagnosed today, his chances would have been more like 80 per cent.

No matter how you look at it, that's a lot of progress, and it's continuing.

Sunday's event in King City will run out of Wellesley Park, at the northwest corner of King Road and Keele Street, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. There are varying lengths of courses, aimed at accommodating different levels of time, enthusiasm and stamina. It's also not necessary to run, as any walking pace is acceptable.

And if you can't take part yourself, contributions to the cause will not go amiss. And neither will cheers for those taking part.