By Partha Sarathi Pati
With more than 7000 people registering for the Terry Fox Run that took place on the 22nd of August at IIT Madras, it was more than just a spectacle. In memory of the Canadian humanitarian Terry Fox, the run is organized every year to spread awareness on cancer prevention. It saw a mosaic of people from several walks of life- including employees of TCS, and Kotak Mahindra, members of the Rotary club as well as several college students. Students from IIT as well as KV participated with enthusiasm. Around 200 of the 7000 plus people were senior citizens.
Participants had to start at the Open Air Theater (OAT), run past the Gajendra Circle, continue up to the Biotech department, and return to OAT through the hostel zone. Participants walked, ran, rode their bicycles or roller skated along the route which was labeled with directions and lined with stalls of drinking water. A large group of volunteers ensured that the event ran smoothly.
People donated generously to the Terry Fox foundation. Some participants also pledged to donate their stem cells for cancer research. Smokers had a chance to get their carbon monoxide levels checked by a team from the Cancer Institute. Souvenir mugs, T-shirts and other merchandise were up for grabs at OAT stalls.
Walking, running or cycling, everybody enjoyed the serene and leafy IIT-M campus. Gasping for breath as the participants reached OAT, some had enough in them for a loud cheer while others silently smiled on, having completed their run – a run which served its purpose.
