Terry Fox Run gets equine twist in Balgonie
For more than 25 years a woman in Balgonie, Sask. has been hosting an annual fundraiser for cancer research around the Terry Fox Run, with a new twist on the event.
On April 12, 1980, Terry Fox set out on his cross-country run to raise money and awareness for cancer research leading to the creation of annual runs held across the country, but on Wina Lechner’s farm, horses will go the distance for the cause.
Lechner holds a Terry Fox Equestrian Trail Ride every year, where people can bring their horses and ride the route or jump in a wagon.
This year there were three wagons at the event, two pulled by horses and one by a tractor, alongside around 40 horses.
Lechner said people look forward to the event every year, asking for the date as early as June
The day typically starts at 1 p.m. then ends with a potluck dinner back at the farm.
A family affair, the kids were excited to get out on the trail and take in the countryside from either a hose or the wagon.
"Sometimes little kids they just want to give some out of their own pockets, so that's why it's a small amount of two or three dollars or five dollars whatever it will be," said Lechner.
She collects donations from participants at the end of the ride to be put towards cancer research. Lechner said donations rang from one or two dolrs from the kids up to $100.
After years of this event at her current farm, and in the past hosting a couple of rides in Fox’s name at Wascana Lake, Lechner has never participated in a Terry Fox Run.
"I never have done that before, the run, so I thought it would be kind of fun to do that on horseback," said Lechner, adding everyone enjoys getting together year after year for the event.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.