The inspiring Terry Fox Run is back
Cancer is still consuming lives, but people like Terry Fox conquer the disease with sheer spirit which cannot be touched by anything mortal. For those of you who are in the dark about the man and his cause, Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer that led to the amputation of his right lower leg. But that did not stop him from embarking on a tireless marathon spanning 5300 km. Today, the Terry Fox Foundation organizes marathons all over the world to honour his memory, create awareness about cancer and also raise funds for basic research to understand the nature of the condition and thereby find a cure. Terry may have passed on, but his spirit lives on, spreading hope and giving strength to thousands all over the world.
“For six years before I was diagnosed with cancer myself, I used to participate in the Terry Fox Run in Dubai. When I moved to Chennai to get treated for cancer, I wanted to keep running, but found that the nearest Terry Fox Runs were in Mumbai and Delhi. I contacted the Terry Fox Foundation and they were willing to support me in organizing a run in Chennai,” says Akash Dube, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in January 2009. The 18-year old took it upon himself to start the run in Chennai and raise funds for the greater cause. His condition has lowered his immunity levels and causes immense exhaustion, making it imperative that he keep away from public places. But there is just no stopping him from running for Terry Fox. “Participating in the marathon is my way of fighting cancer. At other times, it's the medicines that are doing the fighting, but this run makes me feel like I am actually fighting the cancer on my own terms.”
One major difference between the Terry Fox Run and other fund-raiser marathons is that corporate sponsorship is not encouraged here. Corporates and individuals can donate cash or issue cheques favouring Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, that will use the money for cancer research, but no advertisements or sponsor cards can be put up. The Terry Fox Run is about courage to face the deadly disease and about people donating money for the cause without expecting any materialistic gain. Corporates can even choose to sponsor water or energy drinks or T-shirts, and in doing so, they must promote the cause and not themselves.
The 2010 Terry Fox Run is scheduled at the IIT Chennai campus on 22nd August, starting at 8.00 a.m. and covering 6.4 km. “You can run, walk, cycle or even skate! You can turn around at any point. Every one who participates will be given a certificate. There's no registration fee and no minimum donation amount either. If participants want to donate, they can, because the run is not just about the donation, it's about creating awareness,” informs the highly enthused Akash. Last year, the run received an overwhelming response of over 1000 people, and managed to raise Rs. 16 lakhs!
In case you're not in town and still want to do your bit, you can get in touch with Akash by mailing him at terryfoxrunchennai@gmail.com.
