Kimberley Terry Fox Run raises record amount of money
Published 10:50 am Tuesday, October 6, 2026
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The Kimberley Terry Fox Run has raised $13,636 for cancer research, the highest total ever gathered in the 37-year history of the event.
Over 200 Kimberley and Cranbrook residents, ages one to 97, laced up their running shoes at the event on Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Kimberley Nordic Centre.
Students from Purcell Collegiate volunteered and fundraised $1,700 for the run. They cheered runners along on the course and helped with water and snacks. Organizer Rita Pak said a team of 15 volunteers assisted with registration, course setting, and the aid station, and made sure participants had everything they needed.
97-year-old cancer survivor Jean Johnston completed a three kilometre loop in her motorized wheelchair, accompanied by her granddaughter Angela Symes and Angela’s husband Perry.
Participants initially had the option of completing a three kilometre or six kilometre route on foot or on bike, but the longer path was closed after a bear was sighted on the trail, so people were redirected and allowed to complete two laps on the shorter run.
“It was a complete surprise. [Angela] she phones and says, ‘would you like to go on an adventure?,’” Johnston said.
“It was a perfect day. It couldn’t have been better,” Johnston added.
Cancer has touched many people in Johnston’s family. Her husband Harvey passed away from pancreatic cancer, and Perry’s sister Carrie died of brain cancer. Johnston was given radiation therapy for a tumour near her hip.
Johnston lived in Manitoba when she was diagnosed and she commuted from a small prairie town to the big city to get treatment. She made the trip daily for just over a month, with the help of her family.
Johnston said it can be difficult for people in rural areas to access treatment.
“You’ve got to depend on someone to take you because you’re not really well enough to take yourself,” Johnston said.
Johnston is cancer-free thanks to treatment, although there have ben long-lasting effects. The radiation impacted her bones, which contributed to her losing mobility.
Angela has been an active supporter of the Cancer Society for years. She’s run Relay for Life events supporting her sister-in-law Carrie.
“Every single person that is there is touched by the same type of experience, a connection to knowing that you’re not alone and what you’ve been through” said Angela. “It’s really amazing how inspired people are by Terry Fox and what he did in 1980, which is a long time ago. The journey’s still going.”
Next year’s Terry Fox run is already scheduled for Sunday September 19, 2027.
Terry Fox donations will continue to accepted online until March. Visit https://run.terryfox.ca/129921 to donate.