AISB’s annual Terry Fox charity run will take place this Saturday, September 11th. This comes as a welcomed surprise, after last year’s virtual event.

Terry Fox Organizer David Hughes says the fact we can hold this run in-person “is a great way to bring our community together early on,” explaining that “rebuilding relationships” is the school’s number one priority this year—after spending so much time online.

This run has been AISB’s “coming back together” event each year for more than 20 years, and now feels more important than ever.

A little about Terry Fox and his Foundation:

Terry Fox (1958-1981) was a Canadian athlete who lost his leg at age 18 due to cancer. His experience made him realize how much more research needed to be done to support cancer patients; and once he was healed and fitted with a prosthetic leg, he ran across Canada (5,373 kilometers) to raise money.

This persistence and determination inspired Canadians to not only donate to cancer research, but to support Terry’s goal to create a foundation that would continue to raise funds year after year (currently netting more than CAD$850 million since 1980). AISB alone has donated more than €180,000 to the Terry Fox Foundation, averaging €9,000 per year.

Hughes states that this event “has a lot of purpose” for him and for the community. “We should be supporting this event in any ways we can,” he says. And this year that means having the run in-person, with safety measures in place.

How the pandemic has affected the event:

Participants will be asked to register for one of two time slots (9am-10:30am or 11am-12:30pm) in order to limit the amount of people gathered at once. Additionally, everyone will need to fill out a health questionnaire upon arrival, and wear a mask when indoors (no mask must be worn while outside).

Instead of running through the forest and surrounding compound (as in the past), this year’s running routes will be on the fields on campus—with a shorter distance of 1.5 kilometers.

“It will look different this year,” reiterates Hughes, “but that doesn’t make it any less important.”

There will still be food available for purchase from the Marriott, with part of the proceeds going to the Terry Fox Research Institute. Additionally, participants can make cash donations on the day or complete a bank transfer by referring to this form.

Hughes encourages all AISB community members from elementary students and parents, to high school seniors and teachers, to attend to help raise money and “bring back our great community.”

The Details:

  • When: Saturday, September 11th, either from 9am-10:30am, or 11am-12:30am.
  • Where: Around AISB’s football fields, along a newly designed, safe track.
  • How: Register by filling out this form, choosing your own time slot. If you want to donate money to the Terry Fox Research Institute, fill out this donation sheet. 
  • Why: To raise money and awareness for cancer research, therefore continuing Terry’s initiative.

If you still have questions, email the event’s organizer, David Hughes, at dhughes@goaisb.ro. We hope to see you there!