After a one-year hiatus, the annual Terry Fox Run was back in Shawville on Sunday, this time with new organizers.
For over 40 years, John Petty and Rick Valin organized the event, but stepped down after 2022’s run. After the event had no organizers last year, Carolann Barton and Jennifer Mielke took over, hosting the event Sunday where runners, walkers and bikers went through the Shawville community.
“When Carolann and I spoke with Mr. Valin and Mr. Petty back in August, I was pretty hesitant about thinking we could pull this off as easily as we did,” said Mielke. “But I was reminded about how blessed I am to be raised in a small community. Everyone rallied around us and got this race off the ground.”
Before the event started, participants had the opportunity to purchase Terry Fox t-shirts, pledge their support to cancer research, enjoy a burger or hot dog from the Shawville Lions Club or get a balloon animal.
Barton and Mielke honoured Petty and Valin for their dedication to the event over the years and said they hope to live up to the legacy.
“I want to thank Mr. Valin and Mr. Petty, who were my teachers, for entrusting us with this very special community event and allowing us to carry on the tradition that they lovingly cultured for so many years,” said Mielke.
Terry Fox runs happen all over the country each year to raise money for cancer research. Barton said this is something that stuck with her when she was a child.
“Like some of us, I watched him run marathons as a child on television,” said Barton. “We have a smaller group today but we are just as happy to have our community with us to run no matter what.”
Mielke, a cancer survivor herself, reminded those in attendance that Terry Fox accomplished a lot for someone living with cancer in the 80s.
“It’s very important to remember Terry Fox and what he accomplished at such a young age,” said Mielke. “Recovering from cancer treatments in the 80s is beyond incredible. He changed how the media portrayed cancer and people living with disabilities.”
Heidi Paulin is currently undergoing her battle against cancer. She attended the event with her dog Charlie, 8, who she takes on runs and walks with her. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, has undergone multiple surgeries and is waiting for another.
“It’s the start of the fight,” said Paulin. “It’s just wonderful that after all these years, we’re still doing this walk to get more information about the disease and to have better medicine.”
Paulin will soon start chemotherapy but took part in the walk with Charlie, who has been a support system for her.
Including fundraising that happened before the event, this year’s Terry Fox run raised over $6,200, including a donation of $1,500 from the Shawville Lions Club.
