The City’s second edition of the run held after a period of six years by NRI Nitin Tolani, brought together cancer patients, survivors, IT employees and those whose close ones had been affected by cancer, on the four-kilometre stretch from Kanteerava Stadium to Cubbon Park and back.
Nitin, 22, was himself a cancer patient until last year. Similar to the legendary Terry, Nitin suffered from bone cancer in his left leg.
He has been participating in the Terry Fox Run in Dubai since he was 13. “I have always been associated with this run and the cause. Bangalore is my hometown and I returned to the City for treatment. Since I was cured here, I knew the run had to take place here. Since it was organised earlier, I got in touch with the organising committee and they helped me out.”
Terry Fox known for running a distance of more than 5,000 km after having one half of his right leg amputated during the early 80s has inspired editions of his feat across 60 countries.
While the participation was free, the run in Bangalore fetched more than Rs 15 lakh in donations which will go to the Tata Memorial Centre for Cancer Research in Mumbai.
The ‘Marathon for Hope’ as it was called was flagged off by billiards player Pankaj Advani, Canadian Consul General Shaun Weddick and actor Ramesh Aravind.
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