Airdrie laces up for annual Terry Fox Run on September 20 to raise funds for cancer

Airdrie will join more than 650 Canadian communities in the annual Terry Fox Run on Sunday, September 20, to raise money for cancer research through the Terry Fox Foundation.

The event kicks off at 10 a.m. at East Lake Park with a family-friendly two-kilometre loop around the lake. Participants are welcome to complete the loop as many times as they like. Coffee and treats will be available for early arrivals, and silent auction items donated by local businesses will help boost fundraising.

Kyla Cox has organized Airdrie's run for more than a decade and continues because she believes strongly in the cause and has seen cancer's impact within her own family. "It's such a great event. The money goes straight to the foundation," Cox said. Sentiment around the run is particularly high this year, she noted, with a movie about Terry Fox's life coming out and his image set to appear on upcoming five-dollar bills. "It's cool to see his legacy is still going strong."

Since its creation in 1980, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised more than $850 million for cancer research. This year, Airdrie's goal is $8,000. People can sign up or donate at run.terryfox.ca.