HCM CITY — The 21st charity Terry Fox Run, to be held in HCM City on November 5, is expected to attract thousands of participants of all ages to the 5-km course.

This year, the event, which includes runners, walkers and people in wheelchairs, will be organised on Tân Trào Street in Phú Mỹ Hưng Centre in District 7 at 8am.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in HCM City, an organiser of the run, announced it was not accepting sponsorships, branding or product marketing.

The sole purpose of the Terry Fox Run is to come together, raise public awareness, and donate funds for cancer research, the chamber said.

All of the proceeds raised from the run will be used in Việt Nam for cancer research projects in the country.

For 21 years, the annual run has raised a total of US$1 million for charity.

Last year, VNĐ1.9 billion ($83,000) was donated. The event in Việt Nam is the biggest Terry Fox Run in the world, with the participation of more than 19,500 since the first run.

Donations are currently being used to fund a pediatric cancer initiative that supports a two-year oncology clinic fellowship for a leading resident from HCM City Children’s Hospital No 2.

Shirts used in the run are available for sale at VNĐ200,000.

The Terry Fox Run is a non-competitive event where individuals, families and groups get together to raise money for cancer research in Terry’s name.

The run is now no longer just a Canadian tradition. It has been organised in more than 30 countries and territories.

Terry Fox, a Canadian who was involved in many sports, was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 18.

While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients, especially the younger children, he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.

He ran almost 42km a day, starting from eastern Canada. Terry died at the age of 22, but his legacy was only beginning. — VNS