When Erin Danielle told her then-seven-year-old son Jackson that she had cancer, he said “oh, like Terry Fox.”
By then, mother and son had taken part in several Terry Fox Foundation events in Langley.
“Jackson was involved each year with the Terry Fox program,” Erin recalled.
“They have an amazing school program, where they do the runs with kids.”
“I think I joined in maybe one or two times,” she added, “not really giving it too much of a thought, it was just something the school did.”
But, in 2016, the then-single mother was diagnosed with what was described as “aggressive” stage three, triple negative breast cancer, and what was a worthy cause to support became something else.
“I had a lumpectomy, which means they take out just the lump, but the margins weren’t great, so [the doctors] decided we would start with chemotherapy right away,” Erin explained.
“So we did 16 rounds of chemotherapy over six months, and then after that, a double mastectomy, and I’ve had two reconstruction surgeries since then.”
Taking part in the Terry Fox school programs proved beneficial for her son, she feels.
“They really know how to get the kids involved and really teach them what cancer is, and who Terry was, and what he’s done for cancer. Because of the school programs, he was able to recognize, that – even though Terry didn’t make it in the end – he was still able to do amazing things before and after he passed.”
Now six years cancer-free, Erin works closely with the Terry Fox school program and has been a guest speaker at many schools, including Langley Secondary.
“I was going to do two speeches, one for the younger kids, for the older kids, but they decided to put the whole school together,” said Erin, who walked into a gymnasium packed with all of the students at one time.
“It was really powerful, and it was really cool to see that,” she commented.
“I shared the struggles through the cancer journey, losing my hair, losing my breast, the surgeries, and then kind of my comeback story.”
She reminded them about Terry’s story, too.
“His dream was a world without cancer, and [while] I know this world still has cancer, we have come so far in treatments, and surgery, and survival rates, that Terry would be proud of what we’re doing,” Erin said.
The day after this year’s Terry Fox Run, Erin is scheduled to deliver her “miracle baby,” a daughter.
She reports that Jackson is okay with losing his only child status, and excited about getting a baby sister, but “won’t look or touch my belly, because he thinks it’s gross,” Mom laughed.
READ ALSO: 43 years ago, Canadian hero Terry Fox began his cross-country Marathon of Hope
Two Terry Fox Runs are scheduled in Langley on Sunday, Sept. 17, one in Langley City, the other in Walnut Grove.
In the City, the event will begin and end at Douglas Park, at 20399 Douglas Cres., with registration at 9 a.m. and the walk and run getting underway between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
As of Monday, Sept. 11, the event had already raised $1,470 toward a $10,000 goal.
In Walnut Grove, walkers and runners will gather at the Walnut Grove Community Centre parking lot, at 8889 Walnut Grove Dr., with registration at 8:30 a.m. and the event itself running from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
As of Monday, Walnut Grove had raised $325 toward a $7,000 goal .
People can still register for the either of the local events, and make donations, online at terryfox.org.
READ MORE: Reflecting on the death of Canadian icon and hero Terry Fox
Terry Fox dipped his prosthetic leg in the Atlantic Ocean on April 12, 1980 to begin his Marathon of Hope. He completed 5,373 km before he was forced to quit about five months later, when his cancer returned.
This year, the annual Terry Fox Run will take place in more than 650 communities across the country.
“It fills our family with joy to see Terry’s legacy inspiring future generations. Every dollar raised by the people who join or support the Terry Fox Run helps fund cancer research. And every dollar helps realize Terry’s dream of a world without cancer,” said Fred Fox, Terry’s older brother, in a statement.
The Terry Fox Foundation, which has raised more than $850 million, is a leading national investor in cancer research.
