Without cancer research, Cindy Dickson said that her daughter would not be alive today.
“I have many reasons” for urging Thoroldites to join the Terry Fox Run next Sunday, she told council Tuesday night.
“I’ve been assisting Mike for the past couple years, and he asked me if I’d take over as he steps down,” she explained, referring to former Thorold Secondary School principal and city councillor Mike Charron, who’s championed the Terry Fox crusade in Thorold since its inception.
“Eleven years ago, my sister-in-law was diagnosed” with cancer, continued Dickson, adding she fought a “two-year battle, but it added 10 years to her life. My father fought the fight and 10 years later he passed away, from heart failure and old age.”
At age 23, Dickson’s daughter was diagnosed, and underwent a stem cell transplant and intense chemo treatments, she stated.
“She is living a fairly normal life, and she is now five years cancer-free. There’s no way without cancer research that she would be here today.”
Addressing councillors, “I’m sure as I look around this room, every one of you has been affected by cancer,” she added.
To date, “Our little community has raised" more than $395,000. "This year, we are going to reach the $400,000 mark, for sure. Get your pledge sheet filled out and help make a difference.”
Holding up a poster of Terry Fox, Charron said the Canadian hero ran “halfway around the world while battling cancer,” adding, “I had the pleasure of meeting his parents after Terry passed away.”
Making his annual plea, “We challenge people to be there, and if you can’t be there, to make a donation … so the city of Thorold is recognized as a great place that cares about people,” said Charron.
Charron added he would like to see that $400,000 mark broken in his last year at the helm.
Registration for the 39th annual event takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, with walkers, runners, skateboarders and cyclists leaving from Thorold Secondary School at 10 a.m.
As always, participants will be treated to free hotdogs and drinks following the run, said Dickson.
Pledge forms are available at the Thorold Community Credit Union, Foodland, FirstOntario Credit Union, and various other Thorold outlets.
In addition, donations can be made online here.
One of Thorold's all time leading Terry Fox fundraisers is Ray Philip and he is once again out to break his old record.
"My goal is to raise $4,000 this year as I was able to raise $3,400 last year," he told the Thorold News.
To support Philip in his quest you can donate here.
