When Terry Fox was diagnosed with cancer in 1977, he was an 18-year-old university student. When he died four years later during his cross-Canada Marathon of Hope, he was a national hero.
Every September since 1981, the Terry Fox Run attracts tens of thousands of elementary and high school students across Canada who walk, jog and run in support of cancer research. Terry鈥檚 Cause is a slightly different event: started last year by the Terry Fox Foundation, it focuses strictly on university campuses.
鈥淭he Terry Fox Foundation wanted to really drive this message home to this age group,鈥� says Derrick Enslow, Dal鈥檚 health promotion program manager. 鈥淭hat it can easily happen and we should be aware of it.鈥�
As a kickoff event for , on Sunday, September 29, Dal students met up on the Studley Quad for the second Terry鈥檚 Cause at Dal. Among the participants were members of the Tigers varsity women鈥檚 basketball team, who came out for the second time in support of their former coach, Carolyn Savoy, who was diagnosed with cancer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to give yourself a break,鈥� said first-year Science student Alex Hare. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great cause, and if you鈥檙e going to exercise you might as well support a cause while you鈥檙e doing it.鈥�
First-year Environmental Science student Laura Riss agrees. 鈥淓xercise is a great way to get away from studying. And it gives you the endorphins and motivation to get back to work.鈥�
A warm-up was led by fitness instructor Cia Tweel, who runs her own fitness studio as well as various Dalplex classes, including Latin-inspired Salsafit.
鈥淲arming up gets the body loose and ready for activity, and reduces the frequency of injury,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hese warm-ups are more of a cheer to get the spirits excited.鈥�
After the high-energy warm-up, participants took off, following a route around campus from Seymour Street to Coburg Roard, along Oxford and South Streets, flanked by yellow and white Terry鈥檚 Cause signs. Runners completed the loop twice, and were invited to a yoga cool-down at the end also led by Cia.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 something that Terry would have really appreciated,鈥� says Enslow. 鈥淭hat we were focusing on his age group.鈥�
wraps up Friday, October 4 with Low-Risk Drinking鈥揃eer Goggles 101 outside the Killam Library, and random acts of fitness around campus.