The Terry Fox Foundation celebrates the 35th anniversary of the original Marathon of Hope with the first official Terry Fox Day in the province to coincide with the annual Terry Fox Run on Sunday.
The passing of a private member’s bill means that the second Sunday after Labour Day (Sept. 20 this year) will be recognized as Terry Fox Day.
Most Canadians know Fox’s story by now. He was an 18-year old who had to have his leg amputated due to bone cancer. Moved by the suffering of other cancer patients he met in hospital, he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research in 1980.
His dream was that a cure for cancer would be found — and after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres on the road, when he knew he could not continue — that others would take up the fight.
Millions of people in hundreds of cities around the world now take part in annual charity runs in his name to raise funds and keep his dream alive.
In the last 35 years, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised more than $700-million for cancer research. “He left an incredible legacy,” said Bill Vigars, Fox’s Marathon of Hope run manager, who joined Terry on on the run with his two then-school-aged children, Kerry Anne and Patrick. “Even when I talk to kindergarten classes, all the kids know about him. The example he has set tells kids that they can, through hard work and despite adversity, make their dreams come true.”
Activities celebrating Terry Fox begin with the annual showing of the movie Terry, hosted by Fox’s cousin Darren Wark, at dusk (around 7 p.m.) on Saturday at Mile Zero.
There are three runs in Greater Victoria Sunday:
• Victoria at Mile Zero: Registration starts at 9 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. The Great Canadian Hair Do headshaving fundraising event, with the support of the Victoria Firefighters, runs from 10:15 a.m. to noon. The warm-up begins at 10:20, with the run/walk from 10:30 a.m. to noon from the Terry Fox monument at Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada Highway (Douglas and Dallas Roads). Registration area is on the grass. The route is suitable for wheelchairs, strollers, bikes and rollerblades. Parking is available on the soccer field in Beacon Hill Park across from Mile Zero. Dogs on leash welcome.
• Central Saanich: Registration is at 8 a.m. The run starts at 9 a.m. Ten, eight, five and one-kilometre routes. Suitable for bikes, wheelchairs/strollers, rollerblades and dogs on a leash. Meet at the covered bandstand at Centennial Park, 7500-block of Wallace Drive, Saanichton.
• West Shore: Registration at 9 a.m., run starts at 10 a.m. Includes 10-, five- and one-kilometre routes. Suitable for bikes, wheelchairs/strollers and rollerblades. Event starts from Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke Rd. A few hearty souls will also do a five-kilometre swim along Dallas Road. For details, go to terryfox.org.
Check out the Luxton Fair
The Luxton Fall Fair celebrates 106 years in the Western Communities, Friday to Sunday.
The fair, which showcases local agriculture, features blacksmithing demonstrations and Arts in the Barn, sponsored by the Vancouver Island Blacksmith Association.
New this year is Oven Building, with clay baking-oven demonstrations.
As always, there will be small and large tractors and other antique farm equipment on display, as well as a steam tractor in action starting at 11 a.m.
View museum displays of Metchosin and Luxton history in Middleton Hall, or shop for handicrafts at vendor booths on site.
The special main event this year is two days of truck- and tractor-pull competitions in the arena (noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday), with stock, street, modified street and high-performance classes in gas and diesel.
Admission is $10 per day or $15 for a weekend pass.
There will be midway rides and games to keep all members of the family happy.
Admission to the grounds is by donation Friday, free on Saturday and Sunday. Special Needs Day runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, general admission 3 to 7 p.m.
A pancake breakfast starts at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Exhibits buildings open 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday.
The midway is open 3 p.m. until late (no set time) Friday, 1 p.m. until late Saturday and until 6 p.m. Sunday. For details, go to luxtonfair.ca.
Help clean up the Gorge
Once the final resting place for stolen shopping carts, bicycles and other garbage, the Gorge Waterway has benefited from the efforts of thousands of volunteers who have removed tons of trash from the shoreline and water over the years. The latest clean-up is set for Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon, part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up.
Gorge clean-up efforts, which started in 2000, have restored the inner waterway to much of its former glory, allowing for the return of public swimming.
Strong volunteers are needed to help load equipment between 4 and 6 p.m. on Friday. For the main event Saturday, meet at Selkirk Green Park on Waterfront Crescent, in the Selkirk Waterfront area. Gloves and boots are available but in limited supply. Victoria Harbour Ferry will transport teams of volunteers to clean-up locations along the shoreline.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Suzette Delmage at 250-388-5251 or suzette@ burnsidegorge.ca. For more information, go to burnsidegorge.ca.
Discover secrets of native plants
Learn more about ethnobotany — scientific study of the relationships between people and plants — at Explore the Flavours of Wsanec, which takes place at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific on Saturday.
Take a two-kilometre walking tour of the centre’s grounds, guided by First Nations presenters Earl Claxton Jr., J-B Williams as well as Hoke Holcomb. Participants will learn about native plants and their cultural use by the Wsanec people of the Saanich Peninsula. The presenters will bring First Nations artifacts and talk about their cultural significance.
The event is hosted by the Saanich Peninsula Flavour Trails.
The walk and talk costs $5.50 (the entry fee to the gardens), free for members. The event runs from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. Pre-registration is required. The route includes some hills and is not wheelchair-friendly. The event takes place rain or shine. To register email [email protected], or call 250-812-1312. For more information, go to flavourtrails.com.
Wadams Way market features art, music, food
The Sooke Family Resource Society is hosting the second annual Wadams Way Public Market and Aboriginal Fair Trade Art Show on Saturday.
Organizers expect more than 500 people at the event, which features more than 60 vendors, including local artisans, silent auction, demonstrations and 50/50 draws.
There will be live music as well as food trucks, plus beer, wine and spirit vendors.
Children’s activities include a kids’ corner with mascots, games and face painting.
The art show features work by current or former street-entrenched individuals.
A portion of the sales of the art will be donated to the Sooke Family Resource Society.
The day begins with a Family Fun Run, with 1.5-, 2.5- and five-kilometre runs for all ability levels. Registration is by donation.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9, with a fun run at 10.
Admission is free to the market, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 6672 Wadams Way in Sooke. The art show will be held indoors.
For details, go to sfrs.ca.
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