The volunteer organizer of the West Shore Terry Fox run has raised money for cancer research tirelessly for 17 years, but now the effort has become profoundly personal.
Dave Hill, 54, is passing the torch to his daughter Courtney as he fights his own battle against esophageal cancer. He is working through his second round of chemotherapy.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got cancer now. I was told last November,B次元官网网址� Dave says. B次元官网网址淲hen the doctor says it, it really hits you.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t hits home to why we are out there doing this run every year,B次元官网网址� added Courtney, 22. B次元官网网址淚 have big shoes to fill.B次元官网网址�
The West Shore Terry Fox run is small, perhaps attracting 80 to 100 people to the picnic shelter at West Shore Parks and Recreation, depending on the weather. They keep it fun and light hearted B次元官网网址� the crowd is always warmed up with the hokey-pokey routine. Later in the morning, Dave fires up the barbecue and serves lunch.
B次元官网网址淲e usually bring in $3,500 to $4,000. ItB次元官网网址檚 a nice size run,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淵ou see a lot of familiar faces and a few new people every year. ItB次元官网网址檚 always a lot of fun.B次元官网网址�
At 17 years, it might be the longest continuously running Terry Fox event in the country. It helps that itB次元官网网址檚 become a family affair to seek business support for donated flyers and food.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of people get burned out after five or 10 years,B次元官网网址� Dave says. B次元官网网址淏ecause ours is small and well organized makes it easier.B次元官网网址�
As long-time run organizers, the Hills have met key figures in Terry FoxB次元官网网址檚 life B次元官网网址� his three siblings, FoxB次元官网网址檚 high school coach who encouraged him to run the Marathon of Hope, his friend Doug Alward who drove with Fox on the marathon in 1980, his parents Betty and Rolly, and the nurse who announced his death to the world on June 28, 1981. Each gave a new insight into FoxB次元官网网址檚 life.
This year in Port Coquitlam, the Hill family attended the funeral of Betty Fox, who played a vital role in establishing the Terry Fox Foundation.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really glad we went. We were lucky to get in the church rather than the overflow,B次元官网网址� Dave says. B次元官网网址淭he service gave me a new perspective on Betty Fox. She never really talked about her family.B次元官网网址�
The Terry Fox Foundation donated $27.5 million to cancer research in Canada in 2011, and has raised $550 million over the years. For each run Dave grapples with the foundationB次元官网网址檚 vow to keep overhead low B次元官网网址� event organizers have a B次元官网网址渮ero dollarB次元官网网址� budget.
About five per cent of the foundationB次元官网网址檚 fundraising goes to administration and 85 per cent goes to cancer research. About 10 per cent goes to printing Terry Fox T-shirts and fundraising collateral, with T-shirt sales going back to the foundation.
B次元官网网址淗aving 85 cents of every dollar going to research is a good number,B次元官网网址� Dave says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 another good reason to support the run.B次元官网网址�
In the ebb and flow of chemotherapy, Dave expects to still be barbecuing hotdogs at this yearB次元官网网址檚 event, although his daughter is the primary organizer. Courtney keeps on a brave face, but her dadB次元官网网址檚 illness has taken itB次元官网网址檚 emotional toll.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 tough but getting a little easier. I still have my moments,B次元官网网址� she says.
B次元官网网址淐ancer has been with me since I was born. My nanny (grandmother) passed away from cancer when I was 10 months old. Cancer has affected my friends, my family, my co-workers, and now my dad. Cancer stops for no one.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e just take it one day at a time,B次元官网网址� Dave says. B次元官网网址淲e just want to keep giving back to the community in the meantime. All you can do is try to give back.B次元官网网址�
The West Shore Terry Fox run is a 10 kilometre or a 2.4 km walk or run around the West Shore recreation chip trail on Sept. 18, starting at the picnic shelter in the lower part of the property.
Registration is at 9 a.m. and the run/walk is at 10 a.m., after the traditional hokey-pokey warm-up. Volunteers are needed to distribute flyers and on the run day. Call 250-478-8807 to volunteer.
Terry Fox T-shirts are on sale at the Langford Frontrunners, with all proceeds going to the Terry Fox Foundation. For more information see www.terryfox.org.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
