21 · Thursday, August 5, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Recalling the beginnings of a local, and national, hero T he Oakville Terry Fox Committee recently took part in Downtown Oakville's Midnight Madness to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Terry Fox's visit to Oakville in 1980. It was on July 13, 1980 that a young man ran into our town with his distinctive gait, bringing with him hope that one day a cure would be found for cancer. In July 1980, just a week before Terry's arrival in Oakville, local resident Joan Gibb had collected $235 through coin boxes at Hopedale Mall and sitting at a table in downtown Oakville. She had t-shirts and pins delivered to her home, recruited a few more volunteers and the total grew to $8,600, which was put on a makeshift cheque to be presented to Terry in Oakville. The Oakville Holiday Inn raised $700 from its staff, donated rooms and food for Terry, his brother and crew. Terry was greeted at Sheridan College by a crowd of about 100 people and in the two hours before Terry arrived in Oakville, the total amount pledged to his Marathon of Hope increased by almost $3,000 to $11,239 as the whole community embraced Terry Fox and his dream. The iconic black-andwhite photograph of Terry Fox running with a police cruiser behind him was taken as he ran on Lakeshore Road into Oakville. Gibb remembers just how young Terry was, and to this day she is in awe of the accomplishments of her hero. "I just wanted to bring him home and cook him a meal and look after him. He was only 22 years old, but in spite of his youth, he had a wisdom about him that was well beyond his years." Sadly, the enthusiasm Terry generated in Oakville that day turned to sadness as his cancer returned in September that year as he neared Thunder Bay. In September 1980, the first Terry Fox Run was held here in Oakville, and this will be the 25th year Ralph Robinson has been organizing our Terry Fox Run. "I got involved because I believed in Terry Fox, and what he wanted to achieve. Terry saw that money needed to be spent on research if a cure was to be found for cancer and that is as true today as it was 30 years ago," said Robinson, as he prepares for the 30th Anniversary Run. Great strides have been made over the last 30 years, and Terry Fox-funded research is making a difference. Millions of Terry Fox research dollars have been spent on prostate cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer research -- the three cancers that account for the majority of new cases in men and women. Mortality rates for breast cancer have declined steadily since 1986, and have fallen for prostate cancer since 1995. On Sept. 9, Terry Fox researcher Dr. John Goffin, with the McMaster Juravinski Cancer Centre, will be speaking at a breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Hampton's Restaurant in Oakville to share the tremendous achievements being made in cancer research. Breakfast and sponsorship vouchers are available from Laila Eriksson at 905-847-9680. The 30th Anniversary Terry Fox Run will be held on Sunday, Sept. 19 with registration at 9 a.m. and the run at 10 a.m. To mark the milestone, the run will be held at Coronation Park with a new route through Bronte for 2010. For information, contact Robinson at 905-827-7659 or Pam Damoff at 905827-6338 or e-mail oakvilleterryfox@gmail.com. -- Submitted by the Oakville Terry Fox Run Committee presents the N PROVE Y IN BILIT RELIA Y SPA EVER Specializes in: Helping Families Every Step of the Way! · Pediatrics · Pre and Postnatal Care · Naturally Turning Breech Babies · Headaches/Migraines · Fertility Issues · Low Back/Neck Pain · Sciatica · Posture and Osteoarthritis Wellness care for the entire family! NEW LOCATION! Sundance delivers cleaner spa water with less maintenance. The Sundance MicroClean water purification system surpasses all others for ensuring pure, clear water, NO Bromine or Salt needed!! Full finan cing from /mth. Oac se e store fo $79 r details 250 Wyecroft Rd., Unit 15, Oakville, ON Family Chiropractor/Acupuncturist www.acornhealth.ca drdavis@acornhealth.ca 2000 Appleby Line (Millcroft Shopping Centre) Burlington 2379 Trafalgar Road (Winners Plaza) Trafalgar Ridge Plaza, Oakville Dr. Jenna Davis 905.844.WELL 905-315-7800 www.thesundancespastore.com 905-257-5006