Terry Fox Run KL Is Back...

We are marking the 32nd anniversary of the Terry Fox Run this year on November 11th 2012, in Padang Merbok KL. A milestone unimaginable without the support of so many people, there is much to be done yet, we must always celebrate our victories - of which there have been many.

Terry Fox was 18 years old in 1977 when he was diagnosed with bone cancer. His right leg was amputated above the knee. Whilst in the hospital, Terry was so moved by the suffering of cancer patients, particularly children, that he resolved to run across Canada ( a distance of 8,500 kilometers) to raise money for cancer research. He called his journey the “Marathon of Hope”. Terry Fox, an amputee, ran a marathon (42 kilometers) a day for 143 consecutive days - a total distance of 5,373 kilometers. At that stage, Terry was forced to abandon his run as the cancer spread to his lungs. Terry Fox died a few months later at the age of 21. Before he died, he knew that a fund-raising event would be held each year, with the same objectives as the Marathon of Hope - to help find a cure for cancer.

Since 1981, the Terry Fox Run has raised more than 550 million Canadian dollars in aid of cancer research around the world. The Terry Fox Foundation requires that the funds raised be used for cancer research in the country where the Run is held.

The beneficiary this year will be the Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (CARIF). CARIF is the first independent, non-profit cancer research organization in Malaysia.

The Run, which is a non-competitive family event, will be held on the 11th of November 2012. Funds will be raised principally by selling Terry Fox Run T-shirts and from cash donations.

The Organising committee comprises a team of un-paid volunteers, drawn from schools, colleges and corporations around KL. A number of the corporations have incorporated the Terry Fox Run within their Corporate Social Responsibility programs, and they provide the committee with specialist resources such as advertising, public relations and program management.

As the rules of the Terry Fox Foundation do not permit donated funds to be used to defray the cost of organizing the run, we are presently seeking corporations to donate in-kind facilities, services, amenities, and conveniences for the run.

We have included a list of the type of in-kind donations that we are seeking. We would also ask you to help us to publicize this family activity within your organization.

We are also organizing a charity auction to be held at the launch of the run to raise funds before the run. We hope that you would consider donating items which can be auctioned off at the launch.

Please give us a call at 03-56391874 or send an email to organizer@terryfoxrunkl.org if your organization is interested in supporting the Terry Fox run 2012. We will arrange for a member of our organizing committee to meet with you to provide further information about the event and also to discuss your organization’s participation in the Run.