The largest single day fund raising event for cancer research worldwide, Terry Fox Run in Guangzhou has kicked off at Guangzhou Luhu Golf Driving Range on 5 December.
This is the third year to organize this event by Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou, with support from Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Consulate General of Canada in Guangzhou, Guangdong Charity Federation, Guangzhou People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Luhu Golf and Country Club.
This year, a very special and meaningful participant has joined the event. The co-founder of Terry Fox Run, Mr. Bill Vigars, who has come a long way and brings in over 20 volunteers for the event from Changsha where he stayed now. He delivered a significant speech about the very initial story between Terry Fox and “Marathon of Hope”, took place in early 1980s. He, the Director of Public Relations and Fund Raising at that time, Mr. Vigars accompanied Terry along with the run around Canada. He said that it was the first time that he joined the run in China, and it had been of great meaning since 2015 is the 35th anniversary of Terry Fox Run. He also emphasized the dream of Terry’s as he bore a special mission, noted: “Your participation today gives people with cancer hope. The funds you raise will enable us to take a step closer to finding a cure. Terry taught us to follow you dreams, to believe that one person can make a difference, and how one person's dream can change the world. A little bit of Terry Fox lives in all of you. You keep Terry's dream alive.”
On the day, approximately 4,000 participants in total from both local and expatriate communities have joined the run, which are the non-competitive run of 2 KM, 5 KM and 10 KM. It has successfully raised more than half million Chinese Yuan from T-shirt sale, corporate and individuals’ donations, silent auction and food concessions. All proceeds will go to a local cancer research institute by the Terry Fox Foundation for finding cure of cancer.
“We feel very excited to continuously organize this annual charity event, which is really successful! With special thanks to those participants, supporters and donators” said Bahram Sepahi, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou. “I believe Terry Fox Run will become even more successful with everyone’s joint effort. Our goal is not only to raise more funds for local cancer research, but also to increase public awareness on cancer. See you next year!”
