terry fox run for cancer research

this was my first terry fox run

since the original "marathon of hope" started in 1980

-

the black dog that is cancer

has finally shit in my yard

and suddenly it seems like the right thing to do

it feels a little like actually doing something

because cancer in people close to you

can leave you feeling

powerless

like all you can do is hope

-

me and maya

bre and her mom were there

garth the gurls were out on jewelgurl's behalf

while she remained at home

recovering from that savage beating they call treatment

waiting to feel a little bit better

waiting to see if it's gone

"one good day ten bad days" she says

-

my dad lost his brother in august

the healthiest uncle i had

physically active mentally positive

the black dog found him anyway

and ate him up

"it's a bit of a new bike type event" andrew said

people, pets, firetrucks, firemen, friends, family,

bbq, live music, a juggler,

even an elephant

sweet jimmy swinghammer says
you do not want to be following the elephant

no sir you don't

in the true spirit of terry fox - who quit before he finished his run

i didn't intend to do the entire 10k walk

i was wearing $5 footwear

and planning a shortcut home

but

my father who walks with a cane

and jewelgurl's crew with garth's bad back and the kids little legs taking two steps to our every one

they were so committed and determined

that 10 k seemed like the right thing to do

until somewhere around

kilometer 7

we were all sufferin' a little more than a little

each of us

for reasons of our own

garth began to take the signs they put up to encourage us personally

his back however was in enough pain that bending to pose for this picture didn't look so good

i thought we might have to steal some kid's wagon out of their yard and pull him home in it

we made it through though - 10 kilometers

each of us

for our own reasons

under our own steam

feeling good

like

maybe

we had done something to help

let's hope it does