HAVANA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Cuba has announced a new March 30 date for this year's Terry Fox Run, a charity marathon race in memory of a Canadian cancer survivor, media sources said Tuesday.
The race, which annually draws more participants than any other Terry Fox races outside of Canada, was originally set to take place March 9. But it had to be rescheduled following the death from cancer of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, since the day coincided with the third and last day of national mourning for the deceased Cuban ally and Latin American leader.
Cuba's Radio Reloj, officially in charge of marking the start of the race, cited Carlos Gattorno, director of the Marabana- Maracuba Project, as saying the 15th edition of the race will be combined with the annual Youth Race, which had been scheduled for March 31.
Named after Canadian cancer survivor and activist Terry Fox, who ran cross-country in his native Canada with a prosthetic leg to raise cancer awareness, the Terry Fox Run has been held each year since 1981 to raise funds for cancer research.
Cuba has hosted a run each year since 1998 and the event reportedly eclipses races of other countries and regions. Cuba is the only country to hold the race simultaneously in towns throughout the island, and it has garnered the recognition of the Terry Fox Foundation.
Terry Fox ran 4,998 kilometers in 143 days, but later lost his battle with cancer on June 28,1981, a month before his 23rd birthday.
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