ZAGREB, September 30, 2019 – The 20th Terry Fox Run took place in Zagreb on Sunday with some 6,000 participants running, rollerblading, walking and bicycling a 6.3 km marathon around Jarun Lake to support fundraising for the Ruđer Bošković Institute, which will use the money for cancer research.
Over 6.5 million kuna has been raised in the humanitarian drive so far.
The run was welcomed by Health Minister Milan Kujundžić, who recalled that Fox was only 20 when he was diagnosed with cancer and that he ran a marathon for two years to send the message that the gravely ill needed care.
“We must all take care for those who are ill because, so to speak, tomorrow we will all get cancer,” the minister said.
Canadian Ambassador Alan Bowman commended the cooperation between Croatia and Canada in the 20-year-long tradition of organising the run.
Fox is a Canadian national hero who started the marathon that today takes place in over 60 countries, with millions of people running for nearly 40 years in honour of his passion for running and his desire to beat cancer.
Fox lost a leg to cancer and in 1980, in order to raise money for treatment, he embarked on a run across Canada which he called the Marathon of Hope. He ran 143 days, covering 42 km a day, but failed to finish the run because the disease came back, claiming his life at 22.
More news about charity events can be found in the Lifestyle section.
