The Orillia Terry Fox run is going virtual again this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual event, which has raised $800,000 in Orillia since 1988, is taking place on Sunday, Sept. 19 in local neighbourhoods, backyards, and parks.
Event organizer Alison Stoneman says the virtual format ensures the health and safety of volunteers and participants is the top priority.
“Whether it’s walking the dog, riding your bike, going for a run, going for a hike, doing a swim, or even challenging yourself to do something you haven’t done before, it's whatever goes,” she said.
Stoneman says the national Terry Fox Foundation had difficulty making the decision to keep the run online for the second year in a row.
“They had to make a decision for all of Canada, and each part of Canada isn’t under the same guidelines right now, and each part of Canada is in a different situation right now. It was difficult to make a decision like that on a national level,” she said.
Despite the virtual format, last year’s Orillia event raised more than $42,200, which was down by only about $2,000 from pre-COVID levels.
“We were awed by how well it went. It was incredibly inspiring that our participants didn’t require a wonderful community gathering event at Couchiching Beach Park to make the Terry Fox run an incredible success in Orillia and area,” Stoneman said.
“We were incredibly honoured and humbled that all our participants came out in the best way they could to raise money for cancer research, which is the number one priority for our event.”
The goal for this year’s event, as it’s always been since Terry Fox started the Marathon of Hope, is to raise $1 per resident.
“We have met and exceeded that goal for 12 years running and I have faith that Orillia and area will come through again this year,” Stoneman said.
Stoneman says it’s important to keep the event's spirit alive during the pandemic.
“The pandemic hasn’t stopped cancer from coming, it hasn’t stopped people from receiving a cancer diagnosis, and having to go through treatment. So, we can’t stop fundraising,” she said.
“We have to keep fundraising so we can get money to the researchers so they can make a difference and save lives.”
This year, you may notice Terry Fox Run volunteers around the community with lanyards around their necks; those lanyards have a QR code people can use to register or donate to the event and they will be given a receipt right away.
Volunteers also have a tip-tap machine set up at various locations throughout the city where people can make a donation with their debit or credit card. The machine can be found this Saturday at the Orillia Farmers’ Market.
You can register for this year's event here.
