The Terry Fox National School Run Day takes place on Thursday, Sept. 28. Sakewew High School in North Battleford got a head start by hosting theirs last week.
The run involved students and staff walking to Sobeys on the north side of the city and back. Teacher Damien Schmidt organized the walk and said Terry Fox is one of his top three Canadian heroes.
To participate in the walk, and so it wasn’t just free time off class, students donated at least a loonie.
Sakewew principal Shauna Bugler said the walk offers a good opportunity for students and staff to visit.
“The biggest thing is getting a chance to build those relationships outside a classroom,” Bugler said. “Kids run up to you and you start hearing things about what they did on the weekend or their likes or issues that are going on.”
The school’s gay-straight alliance barbecued burgers and had pop and chips for walkers as they returned. Teacher Reid Stewart began the school’s GSA 10 years ago
GSA participant RA Parker played reggae tunes to cap off the lunch hour. The barbeque is one of many events the GSA hosts during the school year.
“I just want everyone to know that what we do as a GSA hopefully will bring more peace to the LGBTQ community, not just in North Battleford or Saskatchewan or even in Canada, but throughout the entire world,” Parker said.
According to Heather MacKenzie, provincial director of the Terry Fox Foundation for Saskatchewan, more than 550 schools in Saskatchewan participate in Terry Fox runs, and Terry Fox runs are one of the largest fundraising events in Canadian history.
