India 16 August 2016: The Annual Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research will be held in Chennai on August 21, 2016 (Sunday). The run will be flagged off at 8 am at IIT Madras Campus. This is the 8th Terry Fox Run and over 15,000 people are expected to participate in this run for Charity. There is no registration fee and supporters can donate and/or participate in the run. In Chennai, this program is organised by the Rotary Club of Madras East since 2009. For online registration, visit www.terryfoxrunchennai.in or call Badri 98407 44381 / Dr. Vasudha 98840 77244.
According to Rtn. Ananth, President, Rotary Club of Madras East, “The run was brought to Chennai in 2009 by Akash Dube, a cancer patient, with the help of the Rotary Club of Madras East & IIT Madras. He had participated in the Terry Fox Run, Dubai. The last 7 runs have been an amazing success with more than 40,000 supporters participating, and celebrities like Vikram, Anu Haasan, Radhika and Sarath Kumar giving their support. The GOC TN, Karnataka, Kerala area, The Officers' Training Academy and Dr. Badrinath of Sankara Nethralaya have been torch bearers. Over INR 1,00,00,000 (one crore rupees) has been donated by numerous large and small contributors to cancer research. The funds raised last year (2015) were used for the cancer research projects of Vision Research Foundation (Division of Sankara Nethralya) and Adyar Cancer Institute.
It is very poignant to say that the Terry Fox Run in Chennai will take place without its champion, Akash Dube. He battled cancer with zest and courage, but succumbed to it in 2012. We have taken up the baton to continue his legacy - The Run; and ensure that his spirit lives on! The Terry Fox Foundation has been highly appreciative of the immense involvement of the two lead organisations - the Rotary Club of Madras East and the IIT, Madras. The event is a fun filled family run supporting a social cause, well attended by all age group. It is important to note that no corporate sponsorships are accepted. All donations are voluntary and participants in the run are the sole supporters.
Interested participants may visit www.terryfoxrunchennai.in for online registration, or call Badri 98407 44381 / Dr. Vasudha 98840 77244 / Murugavel Selvan 98840 13866 / Sudarshan 98407 91900. Celebrities, well wishers and supporters will participate in the run from 8.00 a.m. Students from schools & colleges, employees from corporate, banks and private companies interested in cancer awareness will be running for the cause.
The Terry Fox Run is an annual non-competitive charity event held over 600 cities in 53 countries to raise money exclusively for cancer research. Terrance Stanley 'Terry' Fox (July 28, 1958 - June 28, 1981) was a Canadian athlete & cancer activist. He became famous for the ‘Marathon of Hope’, a cross- Canada run to raise money for cancer research, which he himself ran with a prosthetic leg. Millions of supporters across the globe run every year to keep up his legacy to create cancer awareness and raise funds for cancer research.