Take part in the Terry Fox run this weekend

If there is one thing that Scott Mcwalter knows well, it’s community spirit! So when he heard back in 2015 that the Prince George Terry Fox run needed an event organizer, he was excited to step up for the challenge.

Now, four years later, he’s managed to take the run from its humble beginnings to tens of thousands collected each year.

“Many people don’t realize the connection that Terry Fox has with Prince George," says Mcwalter.

"He used the Prince George to Boston marathon, which has since transformed into the Labour Day Classic, to test out his strength and running style. It was that event, right here in Prince George, that gave him the confidence and motivation to go ahead with the Marathon of Hope the next year.”

“When I first took over the run we were getting roughly 500 people,” explains the HYPG alum. “We are now averaging around 1,000. To me personally, I feel it’s equally if not more important to raise awareness and continue Terry Fox’s legacy.”

The run has successfully raised between $10,000 and $20,000 the past few years and event organizers are hoping to reach at least the $10,000 goal mark again for 2018.

The brand new venue for this year’s run will be Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park.

Participants will start and finish in the upper parking lot of the Exploration Place with registration beginning at 9 a.m.

The run will include a 5 km route along the river and Mcwalter explains it’s a family and pet-friendly event with participants choosing to walk, run, bike and even rollerblade.

Not only are multiple local business and community sports team confirmed to partake, but a special collaboration between two local landmarks will be announced.

“There is a major, major announcement that’s coming from both the Exploration Place and the University of Northern British Columbia," details McWalter.

“It’s going to be the largest of its kind in the nation and will involve members of the Fox family.”

Mcwalter is also expanding the event to include a before and after-party, which will have multiple local vendors donate cookies and a barbecue.

“There has been some donor fatigue in the last couple years after the forest fires,” explains Mcwalter. “But Prince George always seems to step up to the plate.”

Terry Fox runs are held in more than 9,000 communities across Canada and close to 25 countries worldwide. Over $700 million has been raised from runs or fundraising events for cancer research in Fox's name.

Prince George’s event is this Sunday and will take place at Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park. Registration begins at 9 a.m. in the upper parking lot or ahead of time online.

For more information on the event or to volunteer please visit the Terry Fox Run PG on Facebook.