There is another new generation following in the footsteps of one of Canada’s greatest heros.
Nine-year-old Alex Jung was among the estimated 300 people — one of the largest turnouts ever — for the 32nd Terry Fox Run For Cancer Research which began at the SS Sicamous Sunday.
Although Fox ended his cross-country Marathon of Hope decades before Alex was born, she knows well the legacy he left.
“I remember that Terry had cancer and they had to cut off his leg,” she said while waiting to pick of her participation certificate at the completion of the run. “I think it’s important to come out and raise money to help. It will make life better for other people.”
With Alex was Audrey Ahn, and while she noted they usually do the walk at school, it was decided to do something different this year.
“We’re here today to support a good cause and see other people in the community as well as raising money for cancer (research)” she said. “I don’t think it matters how old people are, everybody would like to help end this.”
No one was happier with the numbers than new organizer Bill Palmer, who was happily sitting at a table completing the certificates he eventually ran out of.
“It is still important and amazing that his (Fox) spirit lives on, through the kids especially,” said Palmer, who lost his own son to the disease. “It’s really out there that Terry Fox was a hero and that’s the message that people are getting.”
One of the things he did differently this year was to put a poster up on a board which gave people an opportunity to write down the name of the person they were running for.
When the final figures were tallied at the end of the day, $4,000 was raised.
Many of the schools in the Okanagan Skaha district will hold their own runs Sept. 27.