New Delhi will witness the 25th Terry Fox Run on 5 February 2006 in memory of a young Canadian hero and it is expected to further the cause of cancer research. More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the function including 800 children. They can participate using cycles, or even run or jog, without however using motorized transportation. The event is being supported by several corporate houses, non-government organizations, schools and individuals. Canadian High Commissioner Lucie Edwards will flag off the event at 10:00 a.m.
Fox was an active, 18-year-old youth in Winnipeg, Canada, when he was diagnosed with bone cancer that forced his right leg to be amputated six inches above the knee. While in hospital, he was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.After 143 days of running an average of 42 kilometers a day, starting from the East Coast city of St. John's, Fox's 'Marathon of Hope' ended at Thunder Bay, Ontario, because the cancer had spread to his lungs. He ran 5,373 kilometers, and though he found it difficult to generate attention in the beginning, public enthusiasm eventually grew and so did the money he collected along the way.
Ten months later, on June 28, 1991, he died, but his legacy lived on. So far, more than $360 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research through the annual Terry Fox run held across the world, the Canadian officials said. In India, the run will fund cancer research projects at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the capital. Commemorative t-shirts and raffle tickets, with attractive prizes, have also been organized for the event.
Edited (IANS)
