TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — This year’s Terry Fox Run x TCS event is scheduled for Saturday (Oct. 26) at New Taipei City’s Luzhou Breeze Park.

Last year’s event had over 600 runners join to raise NT$500,000 (US$15,520) for cancer research, according to TCS Experimental Education (TCSEE). The school hopes to see 800 runners participate this year. 

Participants must arrive between 7:30-8:30 a.m. to register for the run. Runners can sign up for 3.5 kilometers, 7 km, or 10 km.

“With cancer affecting one person every 4 minutes and 19 seconds in Taiwan and the country’s cancer mortality rate exceeding the global average, there has never been a more critical time to take action,” it said. All proceeds, after administrative costs, will be donated to the Formosa Cancer Foundation and the Terry Fox Foundation in Canada to support cancer research.

The Terry Fox Run is named after a Canadian who lost a leg to bone cancer and embarked on a journey to run 8,000 km across Canada in 1980 to raise funds for cancer research. He ultimately covered 5,400 km in 143 days before passing away at 22 due to reoccurring cancer. 

Since its inception in 1981, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over US$850 million worldwide, significantly contributing to cancer research and treatments.

Organized by TCSEE, the event is co-hosted by Taiwan’s Department of Education, the Taipei City Government, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. The Canadian Trade Office in Taipei is also a participating partner.