By Joanne Rodgers,
Bruce Peninsula Press
On 14 September, 2025 participants across Canada participated in the 45th Annual Terry Fox Run. This year is the 35th year that the Terry Run has been held in Lion’s Head. Over the past 34 years, the local community has raised over $285,000.
Co-Organizer Anna Martens says “this year marks a monumental achievement, the Lion’s Head Terry Fox Run celebrated its 35th year and has now surpassed $300,000 in donations to the Terry Fox Foundation. Thirty of those years were thanks to Roger and Vickie Stevens whose commitment to the Terry Fox Foundation and the Lion’s Head event is an amazing accomplishment, one that myself and Adam and our kids hope to reach one day.”
The Martens family also expressed their thanks “to everyone that took part, raised funds, donated or even offered support on the day. Our online donations have reached over $18,500 so far with another $3,000+ donated at the event. Our total amount is still being collected, but we are estimating around $22,000 will have been raised this year.
Betty Hastings and her team are still completing the ‘30 days for Terry’ and collecting donations. As Lion’s Head top fundraiser for our event, this year raising over $5,000, we want to say a huge thank you to her dedication year after year and putting in those miles each day. As well as to young Violet who attends the event with her family, she exceeded her target of $1,000 fundraising to $2,500! Way to go Violet!” said Martens.
This year the registration desk and gathering/starting area was moved to the Lion’s Head Beach Pavilion. Previously the event started at the parking lot at the Bruce Peninsula District School. The new location offers shade, washroom facilities, water, picnic tables for seating and a picturesque setting with the beach as a backdrop. The Martens say that “the new location was a perfect fit for all the participants and their supporters, from all the young families, kids and seniors that took part in the 10km route along Isthmus Bay road. It was a cooler year than previous years, but the beach was still a welcome sight at the end of the route to return to.”
Over 70 participants walked, cycled and even one participant was on roller blades as they headed off at 1 p.m. from the Lion’s Head Beach Pavilion.
The Martens also thanked their many volunteers and corporate sponsors “our event couldn’t be made possible without the local support of Camp Celtic, who donate the water station and registration equipment each year, and a huge thank you to Hellyer’s Foodland for the yummy hot dogs – a big highlight for the participants! Our water stations this year were manned by the very helpful Ella Martens and her Opa Marty, Izzy Tackaberry and her Mom Ali and then Dawn Hepburn and her husband Barry took the 5km turn around location, thank you so much to the water stations teams for keeping the event running smoothly.”
The Martens say “ As many will have noticed, our event banner that is hung across Main Street each year took a bit of a beating from some strong September winds. This banner has served its time well over the years and in desperate need of being replaced. We are looking for donations from local businesses or members of the community so that we can continue the tradition. Many participants reached out, curious if the event was in fact happening, as without that banner they were unsure. We have received quotes for a new banner and an estimate of around $2,500 will need to be raised to replace it. If this is something your business would like to help with please reach out to myself or Adam (baines_anna@hotmail.com)”
Donations are still being accepted online at run.terryfox.ca/92870 Once again a huge thank you to everyone for supporting such a great cause.
The Martens family are already looking forward to next year’s event to be held on Sunday September 13th, 2026 and hope to see you there.
