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Saturday 4 November 2017 marks the 5th annual Terry Fox Run in Hong Kong. This inspiring run originated in Canada and is held around the world today. This year’s edition will see the First Annual Medical Forum, co-hosted by Healthy Matters. The forum will host two prominent Hong Kong doctors involved in cancer research who will answer questions related to cancer. Both the run and the forum are meaningful events that are open to the public. Join us in the fight against cancer on November 4!
Terry Fox was a young Canadian athlete in the 70’s who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) at 18 years old. Due to the severity of his disease he had to undergo an above-the-knee amputation and chemotherapy. Despite, his disease and amputation Terry remained positive and determined in whatever he had set his mind to.
During his treatment, Terry realized how little was known about cancer. This fuelled his determination to raise money for cancer research and awareness. in 1980, he decided to run across Canada from East to West in a Marathon of Hope, with the goal to raise $1 from every Canadian. Ultimately, he wanted cancer researchers to discover a cure for cancer.
On April 12, 1980, Terry started his journey to run across Canada on one leg. While Terry was running the Marathon of Hope, the cancer spread to his lungs and he was forced to stop on September 1, 1980 after having run over 5000 km in 143 days, almost a full marathon each day. Terry’s story did not end as Isadore Sharp, the Founder of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts who had himself lost a son to cancer in 1978, committed to organize an annual fund raiser in Terry’s name to realize his ultimate goal.
A few months before Terry’s death in June 1981, just before his 23rd birthday, his hope to raise $1 from every Canadian came true as $24.17 million was raised.
“You started it. We will not rest until your dream to find a cure for cancer is realized.”
– Isadore Sharp, CEO and Chairman of Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts
By the 90’s the Canadian Terry Fox Runs had gained international attention and in 1992 the first International Terry Fox Runs were held in: Australia, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, England, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, USA and Zimbabwe.
This year’s Terry Fox Run Hong Kong will be held on Saturday 4 November 2017 at the Renaissance College in Ma On Shan. After the run the First Annual Terry Fox Run Medical Forum will start. Both the run and its forum are open to the public and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Whether you want to register for the run, donate to the cause or be a sponsor you can find more information on http://www.terryfox.org/hongkong/.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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