George William Taylor - Terry Fox Run

Terry Fox Run

Another of his great achievements in the community and sport effort resulted from July 26, 1980, Terry Fox visit to Barrie. He was greeted by and hosted by running club Human Energy North on the waterfront in Barrie at which time Terry put on the singlet of the running club in exchange for a Terry Fox T-shirt. He is greeted by soon to become race director of the first run dedicated to Terry Fox, George W. Taylor MPP and Human Energy North club president Terry Connellan.

Terry Fox on his Marathon of Hope run came through the community of Barrie, Ontario July 26, 1980 and was greeted on the waterfront by the local MPP George W. Taylor and Human Energy North club president Terry Connellan plus runner Bob Maludzinski including other local dignitaries and many people from Barrie and the surrounding communities. In consequence of that visit and Terry’s “Hope” the local running club Human Energy North through its president Terry Connellan and the office of MPP George Taylor, race director along with the able assistance of office staff Marlene Rettinger commenced and held on Thanksgiving week-end October 13, 1980 the, "Terry Fox Half Marathon Of Hope” the first run dedicated to the work of Terry Fox.

Besides the many runners the local police force of Barrie, OPP, St. John's Ambulance, Don Bland of the local cable communications company, the Rotary, Optimist, Lions, Kiwanis, Kinsmen and other service organizations, Wayne Busch President of Georgian College, the local Canadian Cancer Society, the city of Barrie including many other local community businesses and citizens supplied assistance needed to conduct the race.

The race was publicized in the Canadian Runner magazine and through the local news media allowing for participation in numerous categories of 5, 10 and 15 K runs for all ages that attracted over 800 local runners as well from all over Ontario including some from Europe.

The race contributed over $10,000 to the Canadian Cancer Society on behalf of Terry Fox who was the Honorary Race Chairman. It was hoped that Terry would be able to talk by telephone to the runners assembled at Georgian College but his deteriorating health prevented this. Human Energy North, George Taylor MPP and the citizens of Barrie deserve the credit for initiating the Terry Fox Run.