Chennai chapter of the Terry Fox Run
The placid environs of IIT-Madras come live to the spirit of caring and giving
It was a rhythm of compassion and caring as thousands of pairs of feet, young, old, middle-age and even tiny tots, covered in trendy sports shoes, simple chappals, slip- ons and even barefoot hit the mud track at the lush and serene environs of IIT-Madras at 8:00am sharp on the 23rd of August 2015. Chennaiites were expressing their solidarity and kinship in the battle against cancer by participating in the ‘Terry Fox Run’ the ‘Marathon of Hope’ for millions of cancer patients the world over, they were paying their tributes to the undying spirit of two young men, Terrance Stanley Fox the indomitable young Canadian who ran thousands of miles in the most inhospitable weather, continued to run even after one of his legs was amputated to raise awareness on cancer and in whose name the Terry Fox run is being conducted across the world and Akash Dube the young man who exhibited exemplary courage in the face of adversity, a young man who looked at death without fear and took the news of his critical condition in his stride. Akash Dube had done a good lot of research in cancer prevention and treatment and dreamed of finding a cure for the ailment in his life time. He ideated the run in India and participated with enthusiasm before he succumbed to the disease.
The Chennai chapter of the Terry Fox Run attracted large participation from all walks of life, notable among them being Judith Terrance Fox, sister of Terrance Stanley Fox, Lt Col Jasbir Singh Raina, Shri Ravi Das and Shri Badrinarayanan of the Rotary Club of East Madras who had played a major role in organizing the event, the run was supported by IIT-Madras and the Cancer Institute.