By all accounts, the 34th Annual Terry Fox Run was a resounding success at Ashcroft’s Heritage Park on Sept. 16.
There was a much larger turnout this year with 38 participants – runners and volunteers – than there were at last year’s event.
It seemed to have everyone pumped and full of energy on a somewhat cool morning with a little bit of sunshine peeking through the clouds.
Organizers Cam and Deb Tedford received some good news before the event started when they learned someone was going to take over the organization responsibilities next year.
The Tedfords have been organizing the Ashcroft Run for eight years, and intended to step down after this year’s event.
Cam says the only reason they’re stepping down is because the run falls right in the middle of his annual vacation time, making holiday plans difficult.
Local resident Jean Norris agreed to take over the organizing tasks from the Tedfords on the morning of the run.
Norris says she saw a notice on a Facebook site looking for volunteers for the event and she responded.
She also got an e-mail from the Terry Fox organization asking her to volunteer and she decided to get involved.
“I have an injury right now, so I decided I would volunteer to help out this way.”
Norris adds she has have seven family members pass away from cancer.
“I’ve been running Terry Fox Runs since high school. I love running and this is a good way to give back to the community and the public, make some money and, hopefully, beat cancer’s butt some day.
“I just thought that today was a good day [to get involved].
She adds her husband was away, but “he’s going to get roped into it – he just doesn’t know it yet.
“I’m just happy to help out and it’s a good way to meet new people.”
Cam is a happy camper, too.
He says they got involved because Ron Jones and his wife, Hilda, had been organizing the event for several years.
“They put out the call for someone to step up, so we did.”
Interestingly, the Tedfords had not been involved in the Terry Fox Run until they were asked to organize the next one in town.
“I want to thank everyone for doing this and thank Jean for stepping up to carry on.”
Ron Jones has been running the Terry Fox Run for a long time and he’s still doing it now.
He and Hilda had organized the events for close to a decade.
What got you started?
“Just seeing Terry Fox doing his Marathon of Hope Run.
“It inspired me and I only missed seven run since it started and that was because I was working out of town.”
When the Ron and Hilda decided it was time, Cam and Deb jumped in to take over.
That is what community spirit is about – passing the torch to the next community-minded person.