Stouffville Terry Fox Run breaks $2-million mark

Since 1982, the Stouffville Terry Fox run has raised more than $2 million for cancer research

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 30, 2019
Simon Martin

The Stouffville Terry Fox Run has crossed the $2-million threshold in funds raised.

The announcement was made at the run Sept. 15 by run chair Stacey Fitzpatrick.

“It’s truly amazing how the people of this community have embraced Terry Fox,” she said.

Hundreds turned out in the rain to take part in the run that has been happening in Stouffville since 1982.

Coming into this year’s event, the Stouffville Run had raised $1,950,881.

Run ambassador and cancer survivor Keith Acton fired up participants before the run with an impassioned speech.

The former NHLer and runner-up in the Whitchurch-Stouffville mayoral election in 2018 was onstage surrounded by cancer survivors.

“My father was a cancer survivor. My mother, at 95, is a cancer survivor and as you know, I am a cancer survivor,” he said. “We all know cancer has no preference. It can strike any one of us at any time.”

Acton said when he was diagnosed with cancer the first call he received was from the late Hall-of-Fame coach Roger Nielsen.

“His words were, ‘Keith, welcome to the team,’” he said. “Over time, I started to realize Roger Nielsen’s words were not offensive, but he knew what I would experience. It was the best team I would ever play on.”

Acton said he has drawn much strength from his fellow cancer survivors.