The Terry Fox Run at IIT Madras, Chennai

Charity Begins at Home: thus goes the first lesson in Moral Science.

At a time when everyone seems to be joining the bandwagon of the Ice Bucket Challenge, IIT Madras takes the road less taken.  While most challenge each other over dumping buckets of the liquid, better known as ‘Life’, to promote awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), otherwise less known in the Indian subcontinent, IIT Madras has a more meek and underhyped method of doing its bit. When seven lakh Indians die of Cancer every year, while over 10 lakh are newly diagnosed with some form of the disease, we have a better reason to be worried about. Hence we ‘supported’ the ‘TERRY FOX RUN’, organized by the Rotary Club of Madras East and played the role of a proud host to the same.

With one leg having been amputated, Terrance Stanley Fox (July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981), a Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and Cancer research activist, embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness about cancer research in 1980. Albeit the spread of his Cancer eventually compelled him to end his pursuit merely after 143 days, covering 5,373 kilometres, and ultimately cost him his life, his endeavour resulted in a lingering, worldwide legacy. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants spanning over 60 countries and is now the world's largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research.

Came Sunday, August 24, 2014, and we all ran the errand to deliver our motto and message:

Working together to outrun cancer! Run, walk cycle or skate & DONATE to create a cancer free tomorrow.

In a country where Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths, where nearly three million patients are suffering from the deadly disease, and where experts say the incidence of the disease is expected to rise five-fold by 2025, it’s time we woke up and ran for the noble cause. 

Eight O’ clock, Sunday morning: not too early either, was it? ;)

PS: Watch the Terry Fox Story at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPcXMg3E9KQ

Courtesy:

The DoMS Interface Team.