As Cindy Dickson puts on her walking shoes and heads out the door with her family on Sunday for the 40th Terry Fox Run, the advancements in modern medicine and the impact of the annual fundraiser will be top of mind.
The event coordinator for the Thorold portion of the run has seen first hand the spirit of Terry Fox in three members of her family, who all managed to put up a tough fight with cancer while helped by new treatment methods that gave her decades that otherwise would have been lost to the disease.
At 80, her elderly father learned he had lymphoma, but with treatment lived the next decade until he passed away at age 90.
A similar hurdle faced her sister-in-law, who got ten more years despite a lung cancer diagnosis.
The ordeal would not stop there, after her then 23-year-old daughter Candace got diagnosed with leukemia.
"Ten years ago, it would have been a death sentence, but she is celebrating her 30th birthday on Tuesday," said Cindy to Thorold News.
Read about her daughter's story here.
Despite the pandemic, she says, cancer research must go on, and she is hoping that Thorold's contribution to the foundation will total over $30,000 after coming close last year.
"We are going to do what we can this year, and next year we'll do it bigger and better. It will be special!" Cindy said, encouraging participants to do their own walks or runs on Sunday.
"Get out and walk. When you put the shirt on, it won't matter if you are 2 or 200. You know why you are out there."
After all, Terry Fox didn't let anything stop him.
Pledges and donations ahead of the run can be dropped off at the Thorold Community Credit Union, and will be forwarded to the Terry Fox Foundation.
Cash or cheques are accepted.
For more information and to donate online, visit the Thorold Terry Fox Run website.
