"We've been doing the Terry Fox Run, in this format, for probably about ten years now," said Steve Leger, teacher and athletic director at Father Leonard Van Tighem School. "It's a great way to inspire the kids, bring attention to cancer research through the Terry Fox Foundation and everyone gets really excited about it here."
The run takes the kids around the school grounds with one lap equal to one kilometer. The Pre-K to Grade 2 students run a modified course while the other grades run either one, two or three laps. FLVT is also using this run as a great way to choose their qualifiers for their upcoming Cross Country City Meet which will include their Grade 6 and 9 students.
"It's a really good way, early in the year, for us to get all the kids together and we're one of the only Pre-K to Grade 9 schools in the City of Lethbridge and it's pretty awesome to have all those kids participating in the same event," said Mr. Leger.
Not only is this a great way to get the kids active, it's also a perfect opportunity to raise money for a great cause.
"This year we did "Loonies & Toonies for Terry" and as the kids enter the gym they put their donations into a bucket and we tally the bucket at the end of the day and give it to the Terry Fox Foundation."
Many students at FLVT have been doing this run for years and see it as a great way to get together as well as raise money and awareness.
"I'm excited and it's always fun because this will be my seventh time because I've been at the school since Kindergarten," said Grade 7 student, Ryder Vannistelrooy. "I hope we can raise money for cancer and help cure it because I think Terry Fox is very motivational."
For other students, the Terry Fox Run is something they hold near and dear to their heart.
"The Terry Fox Run means a lot to me because I lost my grandmother to cancer," said Jersey Stafford, a grade 7 student at FLVT. "I like running and I wasn't going to do competitive but since my grandma passed, I''m going to do it for her and make sure she knows I'm still with her so I know she's still with me."
Schools across the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division will be holding their own Terry Fox Runs over the coming weeks. The Terry Fox Foundation's Terry Fox Run Day is Sunday, September 15, and you can take part in the Lethbridge Terry Fox Run at Legacy Park this Sunday. To sign-up, you can visit the Lethbridge Terry Fox Run website.
