DOHA: Around 2,000 people took part in the Terry Fox Run held yesterday at Education City near the Qatar Academy. This is the fifth year the event is being held here.
Pleasant weather, though marred later in the afternoon by a dust storm, brought out people from all walks of life for the event, covering all age groups. Some even brought along their pets, adding a four-legged dimension to the Run.
There were skateboarders, rollerblading enthusiasts and cyclists while there were a good number of people, walking, jogging and running. Infants were pushed along in baby carriages and there were others who came out in wheelchairs. The event had three different stages, covering three, five and 10 km.
The Terry Fox Run is dedicated to raising money to fund cancer research and 25 years after Fox's death, $500m has been raised in total from the Run, which is held in over 50 countries every year.
Canadian Terry Fox, was 18 when he was diagnosed with bone cancer and had to have his right leg amputated six inches above the knee in 1997.
Less concerned with his well-being than that of his fellow cancer sufferers in hospital, Fox took it upon himself to embark on a run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. The journey was called the 'Marathon of Hope'.
After 18 months and running over 5,000 km to get his preparations right, Fox started his nationwide run in April 1980. The run soon received popular support as he collected money along his route, which covered 42 km a day through Quebec and Ontario.
Sadly, 143 days after he started his run and having covered 5,373 km, Fox had to stop after the cancer appeared in his lungs. He passed away, aged 22, in 1981.
© The Peninsula 2008
