Kudos to Squamish Terry Fox Run organizers, sponsors and volunteers for its wholesome, family-friendly event.
Sunday morning, more than 200 took to the Corridor Trail under the welcome late September sunshine.
There were runners, of course, but also walkers, rollerbladers, bike riders, youth on scooters, parents pushing strollers, and pet owners with leashed dogs.
The participants ranged from babies to seniors.
Some were hitting the pavement for the event for the first time, while others had completed it up to 40 times.
It was heartening to see family and community unite for such an important cause, raising money for cancer research, something almost everyone has been touched by in one way or another.
As of Monday, the local event had raised almost $20,000 and counting.
Terry Fox, the young man who was gone far too soon, is a hero we can all rally around. He represents the best of us all; he took what could have been a devastating negative for a man in his early 20s and, rather than making him bitter and insular, he, instead, showed empathy, respect, honesty, integrity, caring, perseverance, courage and teamwork, as the website for the foundation in his name notes.
Credit to his family, too, though, who have carried Fox’s name and passion on through the 43 years since his death. They are heroes too.
At Squamish’s event, seeing the many runners with stickers on their shirts saying who they had lost to cancer or who they were running for put a lump in one’s throat—from parents and spouses to friends, to folks who themselves face or have faced cancer.
While the Squamish event was a serious affair, there were also plenty of smiles, laughs and high-fives to go around.
The event had an auspicious start, with participants leading to the starting “rainbow” by bagpiper Devin Biln.
Having Squamish Fire Rescue members—and a ladder truck—on hand thrilled many of the youngest participants (even when parents told tots they couldn’t climb the giant ladder).
Firefighters also cheered on participants at the finish line, right to the last finisher.
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) councillor Sumkwaht Shayla Jacobs closed the run with a song.
It was an all-around great morning of community and camaraderie.
This year marked the first event for the new organizers, who took over last winter.
We can’t wait to see what next year’s event will bring.
What would make it even better is if even more locals turned out.
The Squamish Terry Fox run will be back Sept. 14, 2025.
