September 22, 2009
DSBN Students Continue Marathon of Hope
.jpg "Thorold Secondary Terry Fox")
“Even if I don't finish, we need others to continue. It's got to keep going without me.”
-Terry Fox, July 10, 1980.
Nearly two months later, Canadian hero Terry Fox was forced to stop his Marathon of Hope because his cancer had spread to his lungs. For many years now, students and staff at the District School Board of Niagara have accepted Terry’s challenge and continued his marathon to find a cure for cancer.
On Friday, September 25, many schools across the DSBN will be holding their annual Terry Fox Run/Walk to support cancer research. Students have been raising money by collecting pledges and “Toonies for Terry” in the days leading up to the event.
Click here to watch Oakridge Public School students take part in the annual Terry Fox Run.
The clippers will also make an appearance at select schools where courageous staff have volunteered to have their heads shaved in order to raise money to help realize Terry’s dream of finding a cure for cancer. At Gracefield Public School in St. Catharines, Principal Lonny Schmidt will put his beard on the chopping block if the school can meet its fundraising goal. This is significant, because Schmidt says his face “has not seen the light of day since 1984!”
Superintendent of School Support Services Carol Germyn notes that “Character Education is an important part of DSBN curriculum. We are very proud of our students who are demonstrating their care and concern for those whose lives have been touched by cancer.”
The Terry Fox Foundation is the second largest non-governmental organization funding cancer research in Canada. To date, more than $400 million has been raised by the Foundation. For more information, please visit terryfoxrun.org.
The following is a list of Terry Fox events taking place at DSBN schools:
Grimsby – Lincoln – West Lincoln
Beamsville District Secondary School – Principal John Shaw and several dedicated staff members are prepared to face the clippers if the meets certain fundraising goals. The day will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning.
Contact: John Shaw, Principal, 905-563-8267
Lakeview Public School - The Lakeview Me to We club is organizing a Terry Fox Walk for all students and staff on October 2, at 2:00 p.m.
Contact: Andrea Jack, Principal, 905-945-5427
Nelles Public School – Students have been collecting “Toonies for Terry”. Students will begin their Terry Fox Run at 11:10 a.m. on Friday morning.
Contact: Janice Slade, Principal, 905-945-8022
Park Public School – Park has planned a full week of Terry Fox activities. The school held a bake sale on Monday, a Jelly Bean raffle on Tuesday and will hold a used toy/book sale during Thursday’s “Meet the Teacher” night. On Friday, students will also be bringing in “Toonies for Terry” and will participate in the annual walk/run.
Contact: Leanne Herbert, Grade 6 Teacher, 905-945-2445
St. Catharines – Thorold – Niagara on the Lake
Colonel John Butler/Virgil Public Schools - Butler and Virgil are making the Terry Fox Run their first "twinned school event!” Students from Butler will be walking down to Virgil in the morning on the 25th. A short assembly will follow, and then students will head out onto the field for the annual walk/run. Students are being encouraged to wear Red & White as a tribute to such an important Canadian hero.
Contact: Marian Reimer-Friesen, Principal, 905-468-7793
Briardale Public School – Briardale students will hold their Terry Fox walk on Friday, September 25, at 11:30 a.m. There will be an assembly prior to the walk and students will walk a route around the neighbourhood. Parents are encouraged to join by walking, jogging or by cheering for the children as they complete the route.
Contact: Elizabeth Tulloch, Principal, 905-684-9259
Carleton Public School – Carleton students will take part in the Terry Fox Run/Walk on Friday morning.
Contact: Linda Rocco, Principal, 905-934-5243
Connaught Public School - Invites all their students and families to join together to participate in their annual Terry Fox Run on Friday September 25 beginning at 9:45 a.m. at Centennial Park.
Contact: Shelley Fehrman, Principal, 905-682-6609
Gracefield Public School – Students are busy raising money all week for the Terry Fox Foundation. If the school should meet its fundraising goal, Principal Lonny Schmidt will shave his head and beard. This is especially significant because the last time that Lonny shaved his beard off was in 1984! The shearing will take place on Tuesday, September 29, at 9:00 a.m.
Contact: Lonny Schmidt, Principal, 905-934-1411
Maywood Public School - Will be participating in the Terry Fox run on the morning of Sept 25. To build up to the run the school heard from a representative from the Terry Fox Foundation. The school has a class competition to see who can raise the most money. The class who raises the most gets a pizza party.
Contact: Gary Osmond, Principal, 905-685-8451
Memorial Public School - Memorial students will participate in the Terry Fox Walk on Friday September 25 at 11:10 a.m. Students will be walking around the community area.
Contact: Rosemary Findlay, Principal, 905-685-7347
Oakridge Public School - Students will be proudly walking to Burgoyne Woods behind a banner beginning at 9:15 a.m., on Friday morning. After each decorating a heart for the Wall of Hope in memory of those affected by cancer, students will be walking for Terry and for friends and family.
Contact: Janice Agnew, Principal, 905-684-6589
Ontario Public School – Students will be walking around the neighbourhood on Friday morning beginning at 9:15 a.m. Each class has designed their own banner to support Terry’s dream of finding a cure for cancer.
Contact: Paulene Holmes, Principal, 905-227-2851
Parnall Public School – Will hold its school walk on Wednesday, September 23.
Contact: Bob Salter, Principal, 905-934-3348
Power Glen Public School - Will hold the annual Terry Fox Run/Walk/Jog on Friday, September 25, beginning at 11:20 a.m.
Contact: Candi Sitko, Principal, 905-684-7429
Pine Grove Public School - Is holding a playday on Friday morning. One of the activity stations will be a Terry Fox Run.
Contact: Shonda Smith, Principal, 905-935-1901
Prince of Wales Public School (Thorold) - Prince of Wales will be having a Meet the Teacher BBQ on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. The Terry Fox Walk will begin at 4:45 p.m. The school will be collecting donations for the Terry Fox Foundation.
Contact: Brad Butler, Principal, 905-227-1321
Thorold Secondary School – Thorold students held their Terry Fox Run on Friday, September 18. Homerooms collected donations throughout the week. The classes with the highest donations won a pizza lunch and T-shirt draw.
Contact: Krista Miller, Principal, 905-227-1188
Welland – Port Colborne – Wainfleet – Pelham
A.K. Wigg Public School - The Terry Fox Run will take place on Friday, September 25, at 11:20 a.m.
Contact: Jack Shore, Principal, 905-892-2605
E.L. Crossley Secondary School – DSBN Director of Education Warren Hoshizaki will lace up his shoes to participate with Crossley students taking part in this year’s run. The event will begin on Wednesday morning with an assembly featuring Pelham Mayor Dave Augustine and Wainfleet Mayor Barb Henderson. E.L. Crossley’s drumline will perform, and will be followed by the main event: the walk/run in the neighbourhoods surrounding E.L. Crossley.
Contact: Ann Harrison, Principal, 905-892-2635
Niagara Falls – Fort Erie
Cherrywood Acres Public School – Students will begin the Terry Fox Walk/Run at 9:50 a.m. on Friday Morning.
Contact: Christine Baggs, Principal, 905-356-2801
Forestview Public School - We are holding a whole school co-operative marathon on Thursday, Sept. 24. At 2:45 pm the cross country team will be running a tribute km with the whole school cheering them on. The school has also set up a “Tree of Hope” where families can buy a leaf for $2 and put someone's name on whose life has been touched by cancer.
Contact: Todd Bright, Principal, 905-354-6261
Garrison Road Public School – Will take part in the Terry Fox Run/Walk on Thursday at 12:25 p.m.
Contact: Michael Burns, Vice-Principal, 905-871-4830
John Marshall Public School - Will have a Terry Fox Run/Walk on Friday morning. Students will sell balloons to represent those in the community who are fighting cancer or in their memory.
Contact: Mark Piazza, Principal, 905-358-3711
Princess Margaret Public School – Will hold the school run/walk on Friday morning.
Contact: Todd Halliday, Principal, 905-354-2333