LMT September 17 2018

6 Last Mountain Times • Monday, September 17, 2018 • lmtimes.ca
An inspiring journey
Local Terry Fox Run participant’s story
Each year, millions of people, in close to 25
countries, including Canada, participate in Terry
Fox Runs and Terry Fox fundraising events. With
Terry’s dream and hope of raising money to fight
cancer, first starting in St. John’s, Newfoundland
Apr. 12, 1980, the Foundation has since raised over
$715 million to support cancer research in Terry’s
name. Over the decades, many Canadians including
those within the local area have been driving forces
in helping to raise funds toward the tremendous
cause. Within Jansen and Lanigan there have been
numerous contributors over the years including one
lady, who has found the cause very near and dear to
her heart.
Mardelle Craven-Robson who resides in Lanigan
with her husband Jack, has helped garner funding
for the Terry Fox Foundation while providing
inspiration and a positive example for others in
the process. While Mardelle is not the only local
individual who has made significant strides towards
helping the Foundation, she is one of a handful that
were involved first in Lanigan, and then in Jansen
when the Terry Fox Run began in that community
in 1994.
First involved with the Terry Fox Run back in
the early 1980s, Mardelle pledged money for the
event while her kids were in school. After her first
husband Earle was diagnosed with cancer and later
passed away in 1990, Mardelle, like so many others
affected by the horrific disease, felt the need to become
more involved with the Terry Fox Run.
The first Run this present great-granny of four
and grandmother of five participated in was in Lanigan
with her daughter in-law Karen when Linda
Mallett was the organizer.
A few years later, local Kinette president Peggy
Lynch, Mardelle and Jack approached the local Kinettes,
their proposal of hosting the Run was taken
into consideration and the Run began in Jansen
where it has been held ever since.
“It was a group effort and there were a lot of
younger families moving back to the community at
the time, so we just thought it would be nice to have
it held in Jansen,” said Mardelle. Like other events
held locally in Lockwood, Watrous and Humboldt,
the one in Jansen has observed a few changes over
the years with varying numbers of participants.
“The first event was out of the former Leisure Living
Centre, and I believe, it was hosted by Cheekie
and Arlene Ewen and then when Carol Neugebauer
took it on, she opened up her backyard and it became
a social event afterwards as well, with cookies
and coffee and juice.”
Now the Outdoor Recreation Facility in Jansen
has become the starting venue for the event and “it
has been great to see people making the effort to
attend and raise money for such a great cause over
the years.”
Current Kinette and chairperson of this year’s
Terry Fox Run in Jansen, Jennelle Schindel, is anticipating
a good turnout for 2018 and said people
can circle Sunday, Sept. 16 on their calendars. “Participants
can choose to run, walk or bike and we
will leave from the Outdoor Recreation Facility on
Holloway Street like we have for the past couple of
years. There will be an 8 km route as well as a 2 km
route, so participants may choose either of those or
opt for completing the 2 km route twice for a 4 km
option.”
In addition to the route options, Schindel said
they also added something new this year. “We are
going to kick off the Run with a fundraising barbecue
and we are hoping this will allow those who
do not wish to do the Run to be able to still come
out and participate. The meal, donated by Humboldt
Co-op and Jansen-Esk Credit Union, will be a
burger, a drink and dessert, and will begin at noon
as well as the registration for the Run. Then after
lunch, the Run will start at 1:30 p.m.”
Like Craven-Robson and many other participants
of the Terry Fox Run in Jansen, the event has meant
a lot to them for a number of reasons. For Mardelle,
over the years, members of her family, Jack’s
first wife Jill, his family and close friends, have
been diagnosed with cancer and some have passed
on. Two years ago, her close friend and long-time
participant of the Jansen Run, Josephine Schindel
passed away with ALS. With fond memories of
biking and walking with Josephine during many of
the Terry Fox Runs, Mardelle said the Run remains
so important in raising money for cancer research
to try to rid the world of the disease. Mardelle also
shared about how her close friend first got involved
in the event.
“In 2001, Terry’s mom Betty came to Lockwood,
and I took Josephine with me to meet her. Betty
was so approachable and I think that helped prompt
Josephine to get involved, so Josephine and I begun
the annual event together. And I remember every
year, Josephine and I would name each person that
passed away from cancer in our area as we rode in
memory of them.”
Baking cookies for after the Terry Fox Run,
raising money and sharing inspirational experiences,
both Mardelle and Josephine teamed up with
other long-time supporters each year. Then before
Josephine’s passing, Mardelle said her close friend
attended the Terry Fox Run one last time.
“Jack and I borrowed a wheelchair from the
Lanigan Catholic Church, who graciously allowed
us to use it for the day and we pushed her around
Jansen,” Mardelle recalled. “She was there for that
one and it was a very special moment I will never
forget. She just loved it and after her passing the
following year, Jansen held the Run in her honour.
Her memorial also went towards the Terry Fox Run,
she was such a great supporter.”
Not wanting to leave anyone out, Mardelle said
there have been so many other people who have
spent countless hours volunteering at the Jansen
event, pledged numerous times and helped to raise
money over the years. “The local supporters who
have pledged or volunteered have been wonderful
and without them, we would not have been able to
have a Run.”
Mardelle has been able to attend almost every
year since the Run began in Jansen with exception
of 2010 when she and Jack went to the Maritimes
where they sported their Terry Fox T-shirts on
Terry Fox Day. With the approval of Regina head
office they biked earlier and sent in their collected
donations before leaving. A few years ago they decided
to go to Lockwood, participating in memory
of Margaret Herr. Margaret’s home farm was near
Jack’s farm and she was a close friend of both Mardelle
and Jack. “When she passed away, we wanted
to honour her so we went to Lockwood and participated
there with Larry and Donna Morningstar
who hosted that event.”
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