What an awesome morning for the Terry Fox Run. It was warm, the sun broke through the clouds and the turnout at High Park was much better than last year.

David Miller addressed the crowd before cutting the ribbon and starting this year's 4.5 km race. With a federal election next month, Liberal MP candidate Gerard Kennedy was there with the Green Party candidate, Robert Rishchynski. Although I saw her out last year, incumbent MP Peggy Nash didn't make an appearance.

This wasn't about political photo ops. This was about raising funds and awareness for The Terry Fox Foundation. Thanks to your generosity, I ran with $749 in pledges. It was also my first Terry Fox Run with my son.

James did great, hanging tough for all 4.5 km. It was more of a brisk walk than a run, but he was rewarded at the finish line with a bottle of water, a banana and chocolate chip cookies. Thanks, James, for joining the cause. We'll do it all again next year.

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I'm running for Terry in High Park on Sunday morning. I've thus far raised $572 but I'd like to raise more. That's where you can help.

If you haven't yet contributed, pledge my run online and help me help the Terry Fox Foundation.

It's really, really slick. You enter your credit card number, securely and easily, and your tax receipt is emailed to you as a PDF right away. Thanks to all who have already chipped in and to those who needed this final prodding.

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I'm running for Terry on September 14. That's less than two weeks away, and thus far I've raised an underwhelming $44.

I serve up lots of content and never ask for a dime, so here's what I'm hoping you'll do so I can save face. My target is $500. I've got a long way to go. Brother, if you can spare a dime, pledge my run online and help me help the Terry Fox Foundation.

That link again is http://www.terryfoxrun.org/ENRunner/default.asp?s=1&RunnerID=52623 and it's secure and easy and you'll earn plenty of karma credits.

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I just wrote about the Ford Focus I'm test driving for ten days. That meant meeting Zoe from the Social Media Group who contacted me in the first place and a few very nice people from Ford.

Obviously, Ford expects me to write about this test drive, but they never once told me I had to. In fact, there were surprisingly few caveats or requirements. They just want the car back at some point, ideally on the 25th.

After they gave me the keys and told me to have fun, they had one more thing to pass my way. During their travels on this blog they came across this entry about Terry Fox in which I mentioned my six year old son was inspired by Terry's effort. Ford and the Terry Fox Foundation work together so a call was made and I was given some fantastic Terry Fox tee shirts, books and a DVD for the kids.

It wasn't necessary but it struck a chord. James and Michelle are going to love their Terry Fox tees and I know James will enjoy the books and DVD. That one above and beyond gesture carries more weight than the ten day test drive. That's the heart of marketing, and Ford got it.

Since we're talking Terry, I'm running for Terry in September. Pledge my run online right here.

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When I got home tonight I had a package waiting for me from Martha McClew, Ontario Provincial Director of The Terry Fox Foundation. In addition to a nice letter thanking me for my contribution last year, there was a DVD with a great Terry Fox documentary and other inspiring stories.

My son loves the Terry Fox story. As he just told me, we can finish Terry's Marathon of Hope for him. As I type this, James is watching the Terry Fox documentary and he's mesmerized. He's always loved Terry Fox.

This is precisely why I once called Terry Fox the greatest Canadian. I can't think of a more inspirational story. I just have to think about Terry's pledge and everything falls into perspective.

I haven't been able to run since November, but I'll make sure I complete The 2008 Terry Fox Run on Sunday, September 14, 2008. Click below and be the first to sponsor my run.

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I haven't shared stories about the kids lately, and it's not because there aren't any. It's because there are too many. They're both at these ages where just about everything they do is priceless and precious and too cute for words. It's truly cuteness overload.

Tonight when I got home from work, James excitedly met me at the door to show me his temporary tattoo. It was a picture of Terry Fox. He wanted to tell me all about this Terry Fox fellow, about how he had one real leg and one robot leg, about how he ran so far every day and wanted to run across Canada to raise money for cancer. Hearing James tell me about my hero was pretty awesome, but it was his enthusiasm that got me.

He told me Terry Fox would run first thing in the morning and sometimes didn't eat lunch until dinner. He went on to say he did the Terry Fox Run, but he didn't go as far as Terry would go. He also told me they saw a video about Terry Fox because he couldn't be there in person, having died from his cancer.

He's only five, but James seemed to get it. He seemed to understand how special Terry Fox was and he seemed to be inspired by him. It was very cool.

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Right off the bat, I want to thank you guys. Another $35 was donated last night which means as of this minute I've raised $600 in online pledges and another $70 offline. When I set my target at $500 I didn't think I'd make it, so to exceed it by $170 is pretty sweet. Pledges ranged from $5 to $104, and to quote Terry Fox in 1980, "If you've given a dollar, you are part of the Marathon of Hope."

I ran my local Terry Fox Run, which was through High Park. I stretched alongside our MP Peggy Nash and MPP Cheri DiNovo and heard them both speak before Mayor David Miller said a few words and cut the ribbon. The route was only 4.5k which I would have ran, but I was joined by my mom, brother and sister-in-law, so I ended up walking the Terry Fox Run with them.

It was a lot of fun and it felt good to raise $670 for the cause. Even though the run itself is over, I'm still accepting pledges, so it's not too late for you to be a part of the 2007 Marathon of Hope. Click on over here, whip out the credit card and chip in a buck or two. Here's the obligatory photoset from my morning in High Park participating in the 2007 Terry Fox Run.

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Thanks to many of you good people, last night I exceeded my goal of collecting $500 in online pledges for The Terry Fox Run. As of this moment I've raised $520 online and $70 offline, but I'm not finished yet.

I run in 5 days so it's not too late to push me over the $600 mark. The following people are already in my good books.

• Kevin
• Mom
• Bruno
• Brent
• Jenny
• Jill
• Kic
• Nicole L
• Nicole L (a different Nicole L!)
• Buffalo Boy
• Chuck
• Doug
• Frank
• Shelagh
• Bogdan
• Anthony
• Dale
• Uwe

Donate now by clicking here.

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I've collected $366 online and $50 offline for my 2007 Terry Fox Run, but that still leaves me short of my $500 goal. I'm running on September 16 so there's still time for you to sponsor me.

If you've already given, and many of you have, I really appreciate it. If you haven't yet coughed up a few bucks for this awesome cause, click here and get an instant karma boost.

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I'm running in the Terry Fox Run on September 16. I'd like to raise $500. So far, I've raised $96.

There's a link on the left to place a secure online donation or you can just click here. Every buck counts, are you really going to notice an extra $5 charge on your Visa bill?

Kic pledged $25 to my run so I returned the favour yesterday. Who else wants to help me cure this cancer crap?

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Today is my birthday, and if you're in a giving mood, there's something you can do. I'm running in the Terry Fox Run this September. Donate and boost my amount collected from the current $33 closer to my target $500.

Here's where I'm collecting pledges. It's safe and secure, just whip out the credit card and throw a few bucks at my run for my 33rd birthday.

Thanks!

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It's been about four years since I complained about this, and in the blogging world four years is an eternity. My complaint has to do with this holiday weekend.

Once again we're taking Monday off in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday. Queen Vicky's full title was By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India, but that would take too long to type. The bottom line is, we should celebrate a more Canadian persona and rebrand this holiday.

In the past I've made suggestions, but now I'm thinking it's time we take this long weekend in the name of Terry Fox. Wouldn't it be great if Monday was Terry Fox day?

Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them, cheer them, scream their names. And years later, they'll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them how to hold on a second longer. I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams...

Speaking of Terry, I'm running The Terry Fox Run in September and it's never too early to cough up a little coin. Make your donation here. And happy Terry Fox Day.

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The Terry Fox Run is fast approaching. I've always regarded Terry Fox as the greatest Canadian. His Marathon of Hope affected me deeply in 1980 and he continues to inspire me to this day.

I'm not running this year (I'm planning to run in 2007), but a good friend is. If you can, go here to sponsor Mike Kic's run on September 17.

Good luck, Mike!

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"Even if I don't finish, we need others to continue. It's got to keep going without me."
      - Terry Fox

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Twenty-five years ago today, Terry Fox was forced to abandon his Marathon of Hope for cancer research just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Terry Fox was a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, who was diagnosed with cancer in his right leg in 1977 at the age of 18. Two years later he began training for a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research. On April 12, 1980 he began his journey in St. John's, Newfoundland, running an average of 43 kms (26 miles) a day through six provinces. On September 1st, after 143 days and 5,565 kms (3,339 miles), Terry was forced to stop running outside Thunder Bay because his cancer had spread to his lungs. He died less than a year later, on June 28, 1981, a month short of his 23rd birthday.

Terry Fox is a true Canadian hero. When dealt a lethal blow by life, his spirit triumphed is truly heroic fashion. I remember cheering Terry on during his 143 day run and feeling the sadness when he was forced to stop before succumbing to his cancer. Terry touched each and every one of us during his brief life.

The annual Terry Fox Run brings in over $14 million yearly for cancer research. Visit http://www.terryfoxrun.org for more information.

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Tonight, the CBC will unveil the results of their Greatest Canadian poll. I know the whole concept is silly, but I've been watching with great interest. I even tuned in last night to watch the advocates battle on behalf of their top ten nominees.

I'd like to see Terry Fox named the Greatest Canadian. Terry Fox was a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, who was diagnosed with cancer in his right leg in 1977 at the age of 18. Two years later he began training for a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research. On April 12, 1980 he began his journey in St. John's, Newfoundland, running an average of 43 kms (26 miles) a day through six provinces. On September 1st, after 143 days and 5,565 kms (3,339 miles), Terry was forced to stop running outside Thunder Bay, Ontario because his cancer had spread to his lungs. He died less than a year later, on June 28, 1981, a month short of his 23rd birthday.

Terry Fox is a true Canadian hero. When dealt a lethal blow by life, his spirit triumphed in truly heroic fashion. I remember cheering Terry on during his 143 day run and feeling the sadness when he was forced to stop before succumbing to his cancer. Terry touched each and every one of us during his brief life. The annual Terry Fox Run brings in over $14 million yearly for cancer research. Visit http://www.terryfoxrun.org for more information.

I'm not discrediting the contributions made by Frederick Banting, Alexander Graham Bell and Tommy Douglas, I'm just rooting for Terry.

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