Jenna Frank’s story is one of struggle and determination.
“In September 2005, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” Frank, ConEd ’15 said. “So I had three surgeries, had about nine weeks of chemotherapy, and a month worth of radiation. Now I’ve been eight and a half years cancer-free.”
Frank is one of 160 participants who took part in the three-kilometre track at this year’s Terry Fox Run at Queen’s.
She said the most exciting part of the day was “seeing everyone out here all coming together for the same cause … because research dollars do go a long way.”
“That’s why I’m here today,” Frank said.
The run, which began at the intersection of Union and Division Streets, was planned and hosted by the Queen’s Engineering Society and has been running at Queen’s for over 30 years. It’s part of Terry’s CAUSE on Campus, an initiative launched in 2012 that unites Terry Fox events at universities and colleges.
Approximately 25 volunteers assisted at the event and the run raised over $1,500 for the Terry Fox Foundation. The participants included members of the triathlon, cross-country and track teams, as well as alumni and faculty.
A barbecue sponsored by Loblaws took place after the run, during which winners of raffle prizes — iTunes gift cards, a Running Room book, a Starbucks mug and tea and more — were announced.
Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 18 years old.
In 1980, after having his right leg amputated, Fox decided to raise money for cancer research and attempted to run across Canada in an effort he called the Marathon of Hope. After running approximately 42 kilometres every day for 143 days, Fox’s run ended in Thunder Bay, Ont. when the cancer reached his lungs.
The Foundation’s website estimates that more than $650 million has since been raised toward cancer research from Terry Fox runs hosted worldwide.
Jess Levy, the Queen’s Terry Fox Run Coordinator, said she had redesigned the track from last year and included a section on the Rideau Trail along the water.
“I really, really wanted to get the students to jog along the water because I feel like once the school year hits, you’re very much in the library, doing work everywhere,” Levy, Sci ’17, said.
Next year, Levy wants to see greater collaboration with high schools in Kingston.
“I think it would be a great opportunity for [high school students] to come out, get their community service hours by volunteering and just really open up the run to the bigger community,” she said.
“I think it would be pretty cool for some high school students to spend a day on Queen’s campus and hang out with us for a bit.”
Despite the cool weather, Levy said the run was well received.
“I think just the overall mood was pretty good. We may have been small in size but I think we were definitely there in spirit.”
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