It was mild and sunny on the morning of Sept. 17, weather that staff and participants in Dundas’s 43rd annual Terry Fox Run said was perfect for the occasion.
The marathon was held at the Dundas Driving Park and featured three different routes: a one-kilometre Kids Fun Run, a five-kilometre run and a 10-kilometre run.
On-site registration began at 8 a.m. and participants, their pets and families included, flooded into the park soon after. Many in the crowd called out to each other, waving, hugging and chatting as the event kicked off.
Rosemary Bowden, who has volunteered for the Dundas Terry Fox Run for the past 20 years, said the run is not only a chance to raise money for a good cause, but is also an opportunity to get the community together.
“I will tell you the feeling of this event is so heartwarming because you see people coming together that, even pre-COVID, haven’t seen each other throughout the year but that always come and see each other here,” Bowden said.
Many local businesses were present at the event, such as Hamilton-based gym Momentum Fitness which ran a pre-run warm-up. Other businesses donated prizes to be won in a fundraising raffle.
Runner Gauthaman Ravindran won a pack of craft beer and a brewery tour from Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. in the raffle.
“This is my first time at a Terry Fox Run, even though I was in grade school when Terry started his Marathon of Hope,” Ravindran said. “But I’ve never actually run in a Terry Fox Run [before]. This was a way to combine my interest in running with something that gives back to the community.”
Co-organizers Nicole Ciraolo-Wilson and Amy Ballinger said this year’s run was a great success.
“Today was actually one of our largest events,” Ciraolo-Wilson said. “It was the first time we’ve ever hit our goal, which was $28,000, days before the run.”
The 2023 Dundas Terry Fox Run saw over 600 participants and raised over $32,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation.
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