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wm ane IR THE GEORGETOWN GEMINI WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1996 OPINION Terry Fox Run -- the dream continues _ When Terry Fox hop-scotched his way along Hwy. 7 through Georgetown two decades ago, he couldn't have known the profound effect he would have on Canadians. Fighting cancer, to which he had already lost a leg, he was unaware the disease was insidiously eating away at him again. He pursued his goal, a Canada-wide marathon on one leg and an artificial one, with a grit and perseverance that left us not only full of admiration for him, but also with a commit- ment to continue his fight against the scourge that would eventually cost him his life. Most of us have had someone close to us either stricken with cancer or who have succumbed to it. So when Terry Fox thumbed his nose at his condition and continued that grueling one-legged hippity-hop run across the Canadian Shield, our admiration knew no bounds. He became a symbol of the fight against cancer. We remember him annually with the Terry Fox Run, this year on Sunday, Sept. 22. The run has been a tremendous fundraiser in the fight against cancer. Millions of dollars have been raised to aid research but somehow the annual Run has not caught on in Georgetown as it has in other communities. It isn't because the people here are not generous. They are, contributing tens of thousands of dollars to charities annually. Yet, somehow, outside of a few who have kept the dream alive, the Terry Fox Run has not captured our imagination. In fact, as with some other years, it almost expired, but thanks to volunteer Bonnie Covert, it will continue again this year. Neighboring Acton, with Jon Hurst, grandson of longtime Georgetown residents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hale, along with other enthusiasts including John Hoare, son of Reg, a former Georgetowner, has made the Acton Run a handsome fund- raiser. Last year they raised over $25,000 with the enthusiasm they have engendered. Jon and his colleagues have generously agreed to assist Bonnie Covert in her efforts to organize this year's Run. Bonnie told this newspaper that "it just felt right" to take on the task of organizing the Terry Fox run, following the death of her brother to cancer last summer. He was a big Terry Fox admirer, she confides, so "this was something I just had to do." It left her with only 10 days to organize the Run at the Community Park at Georgetown South (Argyll Road and Eighth Line) but her enthusiasm for the task has been infectious so she is hoping for lots of help. If Bonnie had not volunteered it's likely the run would have been lost to apathy. We salute her and the others from town and country who are acting on their best impulses. We especially congratulate them because one caller to this office is suggesting that volunteer organizations in the Georgetown and Limehouse area are suffering from a lack of volunteers. Too many parents, he says, use sports as a _ babysitting service and offer little help to keep them going. He uses the Terry Fox Run as an example of something that nearly never happened because of apathy. There's more than a grain of truth in his remarks. A lot of volunteer work gets left to those who do it year after year. Invariably they get tired of the criticism and the lack of help, and the attrition rate amongst them is high. So how can we spark a resurgence of interest in worth- while volunteerism in the face of so many other interests and dawn to dusk commitments to other things. A big start might be a commitment to help Bonnie Covert at this year's Terry Fox Run. If you are interested just call her at 877-5626. And why not inquire if your local sports organizations need any help. Most of them do. You'll be glad you did. our LETTERS The right to work To the Editor, Our hearts must go out to these young adults (do not call them kids -- they are not kids) who only have swimming pools, parks, ball dia- monds, soccer fields, etc. ..., for their amusement, and because of that feel they are free -- or it is even their right -- to play on their skate- boards whenever they like. There is another activity that some of them at least, with a little search- ing, could indulge in: it's called WORK! ' This, however, would probably be completely foreign to them and, gosh gee, it might even infringe on their constitutional rights!! Name withheld by request. Jr. B Bulldogs have successful season To the Editor, On behalf of the Georgetown OLA Jr. B Bulldogs Lacrosse, 1996 Tier II champs, executive and coaching staff, we wish to say 'Thank You Georgetown,' for your support in our second season in town. To our sweater sponsors, pro- gram advertisers, fans, press, arena staff and everyone who donated gift certificates and prizes, a very big Thank You. Without each and everyone of you, we would not have had such a successful season. Last but not least to our own *53 G'N'G's for starting our season off with such enthusiasm in town. Our General Meeting will beheld Oct. 6, at 1 pm at the Knolcrest Centre, Unit 38B, 360 Guelph Street, Georgetown. Mike Hancock,Ruth Craig, Janice Kouyoumian, Georgetown Ashamed of Council To the Editor, I am ashamed, so very ashamed of our Town Council. Council was approached by Mike Foley and John Spencer on behalf of numerous homeowners in the Kingsmill area. These homeowners wanted Law Development's Phase 3 project stopped and park land cre- ated for the neighborhood: Council gave the go ahead for the developer and ignored the pleas of the community. Let me slap myself as I thank Council members for such a dedi- cated representation. Donald Goodman, Wiley Circle THE GEORGETOWN GEMINI welcomes letters to the editor from concerned readers on a wide variety of topics. To be considered for publication, all let- ters must include the author's name, address and telephone number. As well, all letters to the editor must bear the author's sig- nature. THE GEORGETOWN GEMINI reserves the right to edit letters for libel, slander, style, length and accuracy. While the above guidelines must be followed for considera- tion, THE GEMINI will re- Spect the anonymity of the au- thor if specifically requested. Please address letters to the editor as follows: To the Editor, The Georgetown Gemini P.O. Box 145 Georgetown, ON L7G 4T1 or fax The Gemini at (519) 853- 5040 (GEMINI Publisher & Editor Paul Nolan Advertising Manager Rick Butler Office Manager Linda Hayes Editorial Staff Jamie Harrison Frances Niblock Joanne Stevenson Advertising Staff Lynne Buscher Trish Henry Elaine Petkoff Production Staff Kim Konarzycki Distribution Manager Marie Shadbolt Regular Contributors Allison Cook Eve Martin Steve Martin Mike O'Leary THE GEORGETOWN GEMINI is published weekly on Wednesdays by Wicklow Hills Publishing Co. Inc. Mailing address: P.O. Box 145, Geor- getown, Ont., L7G 4T1. Phone: (905) 877-1113. Fax:(519)853-5040. Geor- getown administrative office: Per- sonal Secretarial Services, Unit 47, 360 Guelph St., L7G 4B5. Reproduc- tion without permission is prohibited. Ideas expressed herein are those of the author only. AD SALES: Publisher is responsi- ble for errors in advertisements to extent of cost of that portion of the space occupied by erroneous item. 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