September mornings in Orillia have a way of transforming determination into action. At Tudhope Park, footsteps and laughter blend with a purpose that runs deeper than any finish line: the relentless pursuit of a world without cancer.
The city’s relationship with the Terry Fox Run stretches back nearly three decades, rooted in the memory of a teenage Alison Stoneman witnessing Terry Fox himself speak by the water’s edge in 1980. That moment, marked by humble conviction, set a course for a community and an individual alike. Years later, after Alison’s own battle with cancer, she took up the mantle of organizing the Orillia Terry Fox Run, channelling both personal gratitude and collective hope into action.
Orillia’s fundraising ethos is deceptively simple: aim for one dollar per resident, echoing Terry’s own vision of unity in giving. But what sets Orillia apart isn’t just meeting targets—it’s the habit of surpassing them. Last year, organizers set out to crest the $1 million mark since the run’s inception. The final tally landed $50,000 beyond that milestone, a testament to the city’s resolve and the generosity of its people. These funds don’t gather dust; they fuel research at the Terry Fox Research Institute, backing Canadian scientists racing for breakthroughs in treatment and diagnosis.
Such outcomes aren’t the product of chance. They are forged by volunteers who greet each September with a fresh urgency, by an event that welcomes everyone—walkers, runners, strollers, and four-legged friends alike—and by a visible symbol of resilience: red shirts for survivors, purple for the researchers fighting at the front lines. The Orillia Terry Fox Run’s inclusive spirit draws strength from loss and hope in equal measure. Every step, every loonie raised honours not just memory, but the possibility of better tomorrows.
Alison Stoneman knows the stakes. Her voice, quiet but unyielding, insists on more than remembrance: “We’re trying to prevent the next family from having to go through that.” Orillia’s achievement is measured not just in dollars, but in the promise that community action—when persistent and personal—can turn the tides in the fight against cancer.
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Spotlight: Orillia cancer survivor marks 28 years of organizing local Terry Fox Run
