Register today for Terry Fox '26!

Large or small, Stouffville Teams are the backbone of our success year after year! Thanks for coming together to support the cause and be there for someone you love. A special thanks to Christie Todd for taking these great pics!

Did you know Terry was actually a real person mom? And not a fox?

These were the excited and somewhat comical words from our daughter, coming home from kindergarten one afternoon. They had been learning about Terry Fox in school and she was very excited to tell us about him.

A few years ago, we visited mile 0 in St. John’s Newfoundland – the kids already knew everything about him and his marathon of hope and the important work and research he has inspired.

The kids practiced their sprints running around the statue and we took a few pictures. While we recognized how much of an impact Terry made on cancer patients’ lives, we did not fully understand how necessary that hope was until we needed it ourselves. At that moment, we didn’t know that cancer would take a front seat in our family and that everything was going to change in just a few short years.

This is Andrea’s story. (She’s here somewhere but doesn’t like the attention so I won’t point her out).

Andrea always lived a healthy lifestyle. She was active, with a love for travelling, photography and running. In 2012 we started a family and she took on the roll of loving wife and mother, with a set intention of inspiring a healthy lifestyle for her two young children and a not quite middle aged man (who definitely needed some guidance).

Cancer, however turned her world, our world, upside down. We didn’t know it yet but by the Fall of 2021. Everything HAD changed. She began to feel bloated and extremely tired. It’s the pandemic, we thought. We were all kind of feeling it. And Life went on.

In January 2022, she started having sudden and intense abdominal pain. Countless trips to the ER had us fearing the worst. And our biggest fear was realized in early April. Cancer. On April 22nd, at the age of 44, while in surgery to remove a suspected ovarian tumour, she was diagnosed with incurable stage 4 colon cancer. It had metastasized throughout her body and she’d barely had any symptoms or warning until it was too late. In what felt like the blink of an eye – our world as we knew it had fallen apart.

Chemotherapy began on June 1st and since then our life has been busy with medical appointments, second opinions, and adjusting to a very different life and reality.

Since her diagnosis, Andrea has done what she can to speak about the vulnerability of the disease, the importance of enjoying present moments in life, and signs and symptoms of colon cancer. Colon cancer cases in young adults are on the rise and if she hasn’t told you to get a colonoscopy yet – she likely will at some point.

We are blessed to have an amazing support system with friends and family and within our community. Somebody to watch the kids for appointments or if we have to race off to the ER in the middle of the night. Dinners or flowers dropped off at the front door. Somebody to talk with over coffee. The support has been immense – just take note of our team here today. They are amazing and keep us hopeful and feeling loved.

We also feel immensely proud and grateful to support and be involved with the Terry Fox Foundation. Not only does Terry’s story give Andrea courage and hope – it is a constant reminder to her, especially on her hardest days, to not give up. The funds contributed today – by those supporting from all over the world, allow for that.

Terry’s story gives the all too high number of cancer patients a reason to fight. His journey helps loved ones get through difficult times, giving them faith that their mother, father, sister, brother, or friend will get better. Whether they know it or not, he has touched the lives of every single Canadian with his courage, perseverance, and dedication to a very important cause. Not enough people realize how critical this cause is until it’s too late. He has created an untouchable legacy, with the Terry Fox Foundation having raised over $850 million, funding over 1,300 cancer research projects.

We need continuous Hope that one day we will find a cure, or funding for new targeted treatments that can change the circumstance of survivors, or that one day earlier detection will be possible. We hope that, one day, nobody will have to suffer from this unforgiving disease.

Remembering Terry, you know that person, who wasn’t a fox, gives us hope. Donating to organizations like the Terry Fox Foundation gives us hope. And we know it’s making a difference. If you’ve already donated, thank you. If you haven’t, don’t wait for your ‘everything’ to change for you to make a difference.

Thank you to everyone who came out to make this year a great success, and an extra thanks to our amazing photographers Dennis Hristovski and Ashley van der Walt!

September 14, 2023, STOUFFVILLE, ON – Andrea Smith has been selected as the ambassador for Sunday’s 2023 Stouffville Terry Fox Run.

In 2022, at the age of 44, while in surgery to remove a suspected ovarian tumour, the mother of two was diagnosed with incurable Stage 4 colon cancer.

“We also feel immensely proud and grateful to support and be involved with the Terry Fox Foundation,” said Andrea’s husband, Trevor Easton. “Not only does Terry’s story give Andrea courage and hope – it is a constant reminder to her, especially on her hardest days, to not give up. The funds contributed at the Terry Fox Run – by those supporting from all over the world – allow for that.”

Trevor will share more of the family’s cancer journey before Sunday’s run that congregates in Stouffville Memorial Park. Andrea and family will also be in attendance.

Festivities begin at 12 noon featuring:

• Music by popular Stouffville band The Muffin Men.
• A children’s activities tent presented by Code Ninjas of Stouffville.
• A display of classic cars (weather permitting) by members of the Markham Stouffville Cruisers.
• Refreshments courtesy The Stouffville Market, Red Bulb Espresso Bar, Todd Brothers Contracting, Reesor’s Market and Farm Market, Applewood Farm, Forsyth Family Farm, Christina Cooks and Tim Hortons.

The opening ceremonies at 1 p.m. will include:

• Warm-up exercises by Stouffville’s Nock Academy.
• A salute to Stouffville cancer survivors.
• The message from this year’s run ambassador and co-chairs. 
• The national anthem performed by popular Stouffville duo Dave & Sarah.

This year’s run will follow a 5K course through southern Stouffville that begins and ends in the park. With safety in mind, some changes to the route have been made to keep participants on municipal sidewalks and off streets. 

You can run, walk, cycle, push a stroller or rollerblade.

Participants are invited to stop at refreshment stations along the route and refill their water bottles and grab an apple. Players on the Stouffville Spirit Jr. A hockey team will staff the stations.

Entertainment along the route will be provided by musicians, including Dave and Sarah, Sydnee Guglietti, Tom Pullin, the Laura Volpe Band and Tanya Porter and her drumming group.

Thirty-four Stouffville businesses, service clubs, churches and families have entered teams in this year’s run – up from 23 teams in 2022. Teams receive special recognition during the event. 

Individuals should register in advance of run day. Sign up now at: terryfox.org

To enter a team, register a survivor or volunteer email tfox.stouffville@gmail.com or call 416-768-6971.

The 2022 event, the first since 2019 due to the pandemic, drew approximately 1,000 participants and volunteers who raised more than $80,000 for cancer research. Since 1982, the Stouffville Run has raised $2.3 million.