Tillsonburg Terry Fox Run surpasses fundraising goals

Brent Hosler, left, and Wayne Beard at the Tillsonburg Terry Fox Run on Sept. 20. (Stuart Blower Photo)

Chris Abbott, Grant Haven Media

Success can be measured many ways.

In Tillsonburg, the Terry Fox Run checked all the boxes, raising more than $37,000 for cancer research through the Terry Fox Foundation and the Terry Fox Research Institute. They had more participants this year and just as much fun as they do every year.

“We had like 250 people,” said Tillsonburg Run coordinator Shelley Weiler.

Last year’s Tillsonburg Terry Fox Run, with nearly 200 participants, raised $39,500, which was in the ‘Top 20 per capita’ in Canada. That number will be surpassed this year.

“We definitely topped it out this year,” said Weiler, noting they received thousands of dollars in cash donations on the day of the run, and more will donations will be coming in over the next couple weeks. “It was the best year.”

Tillsonburg was the 17th official Terry Fox Run site registered in Canada, a few years after the original run In September 1981. Today there are more than 760 Terry Fox Runs across the country and the cancer research fundraiser is held in more than 60 countries.

“We always say that, ‘We were the 17th community to sign up for a Terry Fox Run in Canada,’” Weiler smiled.

All of the participants, sponsors and volunteers were thanked.

“You brought the energy and made today so special,” Weiler posted on social media.

“The committee, they’re raring to go (for 2027). We know what works – what we call ‘the base model.’ But we do like adding things here and there, just to make it more memorable every year.

“A big thank you to the organizing committee, because without them, none of this would have happened.”

This year the Tillsonburg committee focused on signs and photo opportunities.

“We have a ton of pictures this year, just from people participating and getting involved. We saw a lot of families – the whole family – grandparents, their kids, their grandkids, we saw generations coming out. It was such a good year!”

And that’s coming in a year Weiler thought would be a challenge, getting people motivated during difficult economic times.

“That’s OK,” Weiler had said, knowing it would be a slow upward climb. “Then, all of a sudden, two to three weeks before, the kids were back in school and everyone was thinking about it. So it just skyrocketed from there.”

Individuals like Brenda Gibbons and Courtney Hopkins were two of the top fundraisers. Inovata Foods ($7,810), the DeDecker Family and Sage Rush were the top teams.

“Systemair gave us a cheque for $6,800 at the Run. Systemair and Inovata, they were almost half of our fundraising total.”