Remembering Terry Fox
[attach]2266[/attach]Don’t be alarmed if you see a man wearing a kilt riding his bike in the Beaches.
That’s Rod Scott, organizer of the Green Dragon Team in the annual Beaches Terry Fox Run, giving the crowd what he calls a “sweet treat”.
This year’s Beaches Terry Fox Run takes place on Sept. 19 at Woodbine Beach and Scott is leading the Green Dragon Team — a group of about 20 people — into its third consecutive year.
Scott got involved with Terry Fox Run after being diagnosed with and beating melanoma, the deadliest of skin cancers.
“I wasn’t supposed to live through it,” he said, adding that he’s been cancer-free since 2006. “I have about the size of a grapefruit cut out of my leg and I go and get it checked every six months.”
Scott says the Terry Fox Run is important for many reasons, including the cause itself as well as the high percentage of donations going to the cause.
“We’re raising funds for cancer research, not just cancer, but cancer research,” he said. “Eighty-seven cents from every dollar goes straight into the research, and not many charities can say that.”
Last year, the Green Dragon Team raised over $2,000, a decrease from their first year where they managed almost $7,000. Not to be discouraged, Scott’s aiming to attain that number again, and he plans to do it through their fundraising efforts.
“We don’t just have the run, but we have a fundraiser the night before at The Green Dragon (pub),” he said, adding there’ll be draws, raffles and some live entertainment. “The bands play for free and all the organizers put it on for free too, so 100 percent of the money can go to Terry Fox.”
That fundraiser is set for Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Green Dragon Pub on Kingston Road near Victoria Park Avenue.
But aside from meeting their fundraising target, there’s another reason the run is important to Scott.
“This is not just about the run: it’s also a good community builder,” he said. “The prizes in the raffles are all donated by the local businesses around here.”
Knowing this is not a solo effort, Scott said very humbly that he doesn’t organize the team alone. It’s a group project that makes everything happen, including all fundraising being done by Fran George, who also conducts the raffles the night before the run.
“I want them recognized,” Scott said. “This is not just about me, this is about the group.”
And with the Terry Fox Run celebrating its 30th year, the milestone has taken on a special meaning for Scott.
“It means hope,” he said. “That’s why it’s called the Marathon of Hope.”
