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St. Paul Terry Fox participants keep dream alive

Breana Malcolmson has participated in the Terry Fox Run since she was a student at Glen Avon School, and over the years, the meaning behind the walk has continued to become very personal for the St. Paul resident.
St. Paul held its Terry Fox Run on Sunday, Sept. 17, with people coming out to run, walk and bike the 5k route.
St. Paul held its Terry Fox Run on Sunday, Sept. 17, with people coming out to run, walk and bike the 5k route.

Breana Malcolmson has participated in the Terry Fox Run since she was a student at Glen Avon School, and over the years, the meaning behind the walk has continued to become very personal for the St. Paul resident.

“My grandfather passed away in 1991, and I felt that (the run) was a great way to honour what he went through,” she explains. Then, in October of last year, her granny was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Six weeks after her granny’s passing in March of this year, Malcolmson’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“She is currently on her third chemo treatment, with one more to go, followed by radiation.”

The past few months have made this year’s Terry Fox Run, which took place on Sept. 17, quite emotional for Malcolmson. But, it also offered her some time to reflect on what her family has been through, and acknowledge that other people go through similar experiences.

“This year was extra emotional as I thought about all that our family has been through with the disease, and it was easy to get choked up watching my niece pedal her bike with me.”

Now a mother herself, Malcolmson says teaching her own children about Terry Fox and the legacy he left, is something she believes will be important, as they get older.

“I have always felt that as Canadians it is imperative that we teach our children about Terry Fox, and honour his legacy by running; but even more so now, it is important to show our solidarity for people who are fighting it,” she says, adding, “It is definitely something that I will raise my kids participating in, as we continue to support my mom in her fight, but all the other people in our community that we know have been affected by it.”

This year’s walk brought in about 70 participants, who took on the 5km route around the south portion of town, going from the St. Paul Rec. Centre, toward Lagasse Park, then back north toward the high school and west all the way back to the Rec. Centre.

Some participants rode their bikes, while others ran, and some walked. One participant could be seen taking photos, and documenting the event. Organizer Janna Zarowny said she spoke to the man, and he explained that he was from Cuba, but had family living in St. Paul.

Having participated in a Terry Fox Run in Cuba a couple years ago, he seemed very happy to be able to take part in a Canadian Terry Fox Run, said Zarowny.

After tallying up the funds that had been brought in on Sunday, Zarowny says over $5,055 was raised at the St. Paul run, without taking into account the online fundraising efforts. Once those funds are taken into account, the number will be close to $5,900.

Zarowny says he was happy to see so many families come out to the run. She adds that she will continue to be involved in organizing the run, alongside the Town of St. Paul, and hopes that next year’s event continues to grow and get even bigger than this year’s.

“It was great to see such a diversity in the event participants,” says the Town of St. Paul staff member Ashley Hayward, who was on hand to help with the event. “From strollers and dog walkers, to marathon runners, it was wonderful to see the community support for such a momentous . . . Canadian fundraiser.”


Janice Huser

About the Author: Janice Huser

Janice Huser has been with the St. Paul Journal since 2006. She is a graduate of the SAIT print media journalism program, is originally from St. Paul and has a passion for photography.
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