Statement made on 19 October 2010 by Senator Elizabeth Hubley
Hon. Elizabeth Hubley:
Honourable senators, on Sunday, September 19, 2010, I joined 10,000 other participants who ran or walked across the 13-kilometre Confederation Bridge as part of the thirtieth Terry Fox Run.
In 1980, Terry Fox set out to raise money for cancer research. His 143-day marathon, covering 5,373 kilometres and six provinces, captured the hearts of Canadians and has inspired millions around the world. Over the 30 years that the annual run has been held, almost $500 million has been raised for cancer research.
This year is the third time the Confederation Bridge has hosted the Terry Fox Run. As I had done in 1997 and in 2005, I walked the bridge this year with my daughter and her daughters — my granddaughters. Participants in the bridge run were not only from Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, but came from places as far away as the Yukon, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Fred Fox, Terry's older brother, also participated.
The Confederation Bridge, the longest bridge over ice-covered waters in the world, is a marvel of engineering. Walking the bridge that day with my daughter and granddaughters, and so many other participants united for one goal, I could not help but be inspired and humbled. Our 13-kilometre walk was insignificant next to the 42-kilometre trek Terry Fox averaged each day of his run.
Like most families, mine has been touched by cancer. Terry Fox's lasting legacy to Canadians has been one of hope — hope that someday cancer will be beaten once and for all.