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Marathon of Hope attracts twice the runners

Hope participation doubles this year
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Joe Poulton

Joe Poulton, 83, has never missed a Terry Fox Run, and a little rain on Sunday morning certainly didn't stop him from running again this year.

"I've been running since they started the run," he said, briefly after completing the 5 km course in Hope this weekend.

It's Fox's determination while fighting cancer that inspires him to lace up each year.

"I do it to contribute, but first of all, he was an amazing person," Poulton said. "He went 25 miles a day and that's unbelievable. I think even more people should come out and support this."

He came in from Sunshine Valley to take part in this year's run.

But running is nothing new to Poulton, who can be found running most days.

"I try to run six days a week," he says, mostly on flat ground.

The hilly course mapped out from the Hope Recreation Centre to Kawkawa Lake was a bit of challenge, he said.

"The little hills set me back a bit," he said. "But I run to keep in shape, and keep fit, and for the challenge."

This year's run saw a spike in participation, said organizer Eileen Shepherd.

Normally, about 20 people come out for the annual event. This year, about 40 people ran or walked the course.

In total, the Hope Terry Fox Run raised just over $1,200, Shepherd said Wednesday.

New to the race was six-year-old Katerina Fisher, who ran the first half of the race with her mom Tasha Enns and the second half with her grandmother, Judy Enns.

Katerina said she recently watched the movie about Terry Fox, and was inspired to run this year.

But it's likely she was also inspired by her mother, who has never missed a run.

"I run every year in Hope," Enns said, who had also run an unrelated 10km race the day prior. "Terry Fox is my hero and if he could do it, I can do it."

news@ahobserver.com



Jessica Peters

About the Author: Jessica Peters

I began my career in 1999, covering communities across the Fraser Valley ever since.
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