Norfolk Terry Fox Run returns Sept. 14 in Simcoe

The Norfolk Terry Fox Run is a great family event – bring your family on Sept. 14 to walk, run, cycle, or roll. 

Chris Abbott

Editor

It’s a big year for the annual Norfolk Terry Fox Run in Simcoe.

You can walk, run, cycle, or roll at the 45th annual local event on Sept. 14, raising funds for the Terry Fox Foundation and its vital, lifesaving cancer research to improve lives and ‘transform the future of cancer.’

This year’s Terry Fox Run will start near the Lions Ball Park pavilion, 75 Davis Street, Simcoe.

You can choose 1-km, 5-km or 10-km distances (if you do the 5-km route twice).

“It’s a great family event – we have music, we have a kid’s zone, face painting, bubbles, colouring, rock painting, a balloon guy…” said co-organizer Carolyn Thorpe, who leads the Norfolk Terry Fox Run with her two daughters, Mackenzie and Maddy Thorpe. “And when everyone is done their walk, we have Tim Hortons coffee, we have juice boxes for the kids donated by the Independent, we have Domino’s Pizza, we have baked goods from Brantford… and more.”

Registration begins at 10 a.m. on the 14th. Opening ceremonies, including a cancer survivor sharing their story, and warm-ups begin just before 11 a.m. followed by ‘The Run’ at 11.

“We do accept people coming to register on the day of the Run (Sept. 14),” Mackenzie noted.

You can download pledge sheets to print out or collect donations, bring them on Run day and fill out pledge sheets that day.

You can also pre-register or make a donation at run.terryfox.ca/norfolkcounty online. People are welcome to make an online donation to the 2025 Norfolk Terry Fox Run until October.

“You do not have to register ahead of time and you don’t have to have a minimal donation amount to be able to participate,” said Carolyn.

“We also have a great committee with lots of volunteers,” said Mackenzie. “People are welcome - if you are interested in volunteering on Run day or joining our committee, send us an email (norfolktfr@gmail.com).”

Funds raised support the Terry Fox Foundation, which funds innovative cancer research; maintains low overhead; and hosts more than 9,000 annual volunteer-led Runs, and through the Foundation funds the Terry Fox Research Institution.

“Over the last couple of years, the Terry Fox Foundation has opened Terry Fox Research Institutes, which is a Canada-wide initiative working with some of the major cancer research centres and top cancer researchers,” said Mackenzie. “Since 1980, more than $950 million has been donated to the campaign.”

“The survival rate, a major part to this research, has increased from 25 per cent back in the 80s, when Terry started his Marathon of Hope, to 60-plus per cent now, with some cancers having 90 per cent survival rates.”

“So that’s a huge increase,” said Carolyn.

Pet dogs are also welcome on a leash – there are water stations at the midway point on both the 1-km and 5-km routes, as well as the pavilion ‘home base,’ and dog treats.

“For some people, that’s the reason they like to go for a walk every day, they take their dog,” said Carolyn. “So we encourage that, it’s pet friendly.”

Last year, about 180-200 people participated in the Norfolk event raising $20,416, and since 2003 (the first year they have financial records available) the Norfolk County event has raised $356,995.02.

“It’s a good turnout… I wish it would be more,” Carolyn smiled.

Terry Fox school runs in Norfolk raised $9,491 last year, said Mackenzie.

“Together, nearly $30,000 raised in Norfolk,” Carolyn noted.

Schools receive a Terry Fox package sent to them with stickers (‘I am running for…’), tattoos and colouring sheets to help promote it. And there’s a Terry Fox ABC book this year – T is for Terry: A Book of Courage. It goes through the entire alphabet, each letter talking about something Terry did or represents Terry.

“It’s a nice book that schools are going to enjoy reading to the students right before run day.”

There will be a Food Tour of Norfolk raffle this year, featuring more than 34 local restaurants that donated prizes. Its value is more than $2,025 in gift certificates. Tickets are $10 or three for $20.

If you cannot make it on Run day, you can still participate in the raffle. Email norfolktfr@gmail.com for information.

The Norfolk Terry Fox Run is co-hosting ABEL Enterprises’ bingo night at the Simcoe Legion on Sept. 8.

“And we still have our ongoing bottle drive. In the summer we have three bins.”

People who purchase online tickets for the upcoming Port Dover Beerstock on Sept. 27 at Silver Lake Park can choose a charity of your choice to benefit – including the Norfolk Terry Fox Run.

Domino’s Pizza in Delhi will be donating a portion of sales as a fundraiser in early September for the Norfolk Terry Fox Run.

“We have great, great supporters in our community, for sure,” said Carolyn.

“Darrel Fox and a few other individuals did a cross-Canada bike ride as a national fundraiser to support the 45th anniversary,” said Mackenzie, noting Terry’s younger brother Darrell led a 7,000 km, 32-day cycling ride from Vancouver to St. John’s that finished July 10, raising more than $1.1 million for the Terry Fox Foundation.

“Canada-wide, they’ve done a few extra things for the 45th anniversary,” said Carolyn. “They sent us a video clip when they got to the Thunder Bay monument, and how emotional that was.”