American love for a Canadian hero

TERRY FOX SUPPORTER. Sam Havens will be at the Downtown Huntsville Classic and Custom Car show on Sept. 15 for a last push at collecting donations before the run on Sept. 16. Photo by Mandi Hargrave

HUNTSVILLE – Sam Havens is an American. But that hasn’t stopped in from supporting a Canadian hero.
His fascination with Terry Fox began in 2000 while driving through Thunder Bay and seeing a statue of Fox and learning about his Marathon of Hope. Since then Havens has participated in the Terry Fox Run every year, collecting pledges at home in Scottsdale, Arizona before heading north to his cottage on Lake of Bays, raising additional funds in Muskoka.
“There are so many different cancers out there, we need to keep the research going. Don’t give up; that was Terry’s philosophy,” said Havens, in awe of Fox’s determination to run 26.2 miles a day and making it halfway across Canada.
Having raised nearly $47,000 from 2000 to 2011, Havens admires the area’s generosity.
“Huntsville has probably raised more money than any other community of its size,” he said. “The community involvement for a relatively small town is pretty amazing.”
This year Havens has mainly been collecting from corporate sponsors, receiving kilometre patron sponsorships, as well as donations and items for a silent auction bid he’ll host during the Downtown Huntsville Classic & Custom Car Show on Sept. 15, which takes place a day before the run.
His goal this year is to simply raise as much funds as possible.
“Terry Fox was a Canadian hero. People are willing to donate to a name like that,” he said.
Havens has experienced the devastating effects of cancer more than once in his family. His father had cancer and his wife, Marsha, battled thyroid cancer last fall. Seeing how far cancer research has come since Fox’s journey, Havens feels strongly about keeping it going.
“If Terry (was alive today), he wouldn’t have had to have his leg amputated,” said Havens. “We have to continue to support cancer research through this foundation.”
He encourages people to step up to the plate and donate or participate in the run themselves.
“They call it the Terry Fox Run, but I walk. It’s not a race, it’s showing up; showing up is half the battle,” he said.
The Terry Fox Run will take place on Sept. 16 at the Huntsville High School. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the race at 11 a.m.
Participants can walk, run, bike or rollerblade a one, five or 10-kilometre route. The route is also wheelchair accessible.To donate or register for the run visit www.terryfox.org/run.

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