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Terry Fox Run: Shelburne’s local heroes

Local Resident and Terry Fox Run Organizer, Joan Wallace knows what it means to come face to face with cancer, fight, beat the odds and survive.

Though some feel Terry Fox lost his battle, others like Wallace are of a very different opinion on the subject. Wallace recounts one occasion that proved to be too surreal at the time as she made every attempt to watch this inspiration young man running, “I remember being sick with Cancer and I was recovering at the cottage when Terry Fox, then a young man, ran through our community and I had the opportunity to see him right from our door, but I couldn't bring myself to look. It's rather emotional for me,” Wallace continued, “I watched Terry's run until he died. I can tell you he is a true Canadian Hero.”

Bravery comes in so many forms and though many of us are not made of the “stuff” Terry Fox had a surplus of, others do their part volunteering, organizing, and raising money to fight this horrible and more often than not devastating disease, proving every day heroes like Wallace walk among us.

“I'm a cancer survivor and one thing very important to remember is the Terry Fox Foundation helps to fight all cancers,” explained Wallace.

This year's run held on September 15th was a great success bringing in $1,833 with 32 participants. Participants trickled in with their bicycles, some jogged, some walked, and even generations were present. Worth noting, Wallace reminds, the event was not a race and anyone can participate.

“Our volunteers are so great. They work very hard and many in my family are here today to help out,” Wallace proudly acknowledged her son's, grandson and daughter-in-law as they volunteered, and participated in the run as well as many volunteers working behind the scenes like Bob Wallace, Isabel and Jeff Holmes, and water was donated to the event by Rotary Club of Shelburne.

For Andrea Laurin, this special day was an event she could share with her own daughter, 8 year old Danika.

“When I was young, I ran for the Terry Fox Run and now I can teach Danika about Terry Fox, who he was, why he ran on a prosthetic leg to raise money to fight cancer,” Laurin explained. Just eight years old, Danika already knows her contribution to fight Cancer is important.

Though each person participates for a different reason, either knowing someone who fought cancer, is fighting cancer, or lost their battle to cancer, they all remember the young Canadian man who inspired generations around the world to be brave in the face of danger, to be who you are until the very end, to work with what you have for the greater good even if that means running across Canada on a prosthetic leg. When next you walk down the streets of Shelburne, you walk amongst many who are brave, quiet heroes the likes of Terry Fox and inspirational heroes the likes of Wallace.

There are so many different kinds of heroes in today's society and Shelburne's got them all!

By Alex Sher

Terry Fox Run Organizer Joan Wallace is proud aspunch as her son, Craig Wallace volunteers along side Wallace's daughter in law, Dianna Wallace at the Terry Fox Run held on September 15th. Even on a cold, damp morning, nothing would deter these brave local heroes from raising money to fight cancer.

Post date: 2013-09-23 11:25:32
Post date GMT: 2013-09-23 15:25:32
Post modified date: 2013-09-25 23:13:59
Post modified date GMT: 2013-09-26 03:13:59