Terry Fox Public School students have raised $80,000 for the cause

TORONTO – More than three decades ago, the Terry Fox Public School was the first to take on the name of a beloved Canadian hero.

It was “just in 1980, so it must have been done literally months after Terry stopped running. And I think that it has a beautiful spirit,” said Martha McClew, the Provincial Director of the Terry Fox Foundation.

When visiting the school, McClew emphasized the importance of the school’s continued participation in the annual run. In the past 30 years, the public school has raised around $80,000 for cancer research.

Alisa VanDerToorn is not only a teacher at the school, but she has been coaching the children for the annual Terry Fox Run as well.

“We practice three days a week,” said VanDerToorn. “Everybody in the school participates from the three-and-a-half-year-old kindergarten students, all the way to grade eight”.

VanDerToorn thinks this run teaches their students “about friendship, about kindness, about courage – all things that Terry embodied.”

Vivica Lin is an eighth grade student at the school, who looks forward to the run each and every year.

“I feel motivated, you know, thinking about Terry Fox and how much he ran, and how much he persevered – just makes me want to try my hardest,” said Lin.

Similar to Lin, Rayyan Rahman is an eighth grade student who feels that it is an honour to attend the Terry Fox Public School.

“He ran the Marathon of Hope, decided to run for kilometers and kilometers – a marathon every single day just to raise money for cancer,” Rahman said. “I feel proud that I’m able to attend a school in his name.”

Many, including both Terry’s parents and McClew, never thought the run would come this far, and reach such a grand amount of people.

“They’ve always said they never imagined the run would last more than a couple of years.” McClew said. “It is such a tribute to Canadians who have really been the caretakers now, of Terry’s dream.”

Want to take part in the Terry Fox Run? Click here to find one in your area.