Ordinarily the idea of politicians battling it out in a sack race across Trinity College’s cricket grounds would probably give rise to endless pun-filled headlines and wisecracks from the nation’s press.
But today, three of the Dáil’s young guns took on an Olympic gold medallist, several small children and the assembled ranks of press photographers to help launch the Irish Cancer Society’s Terry Fox Run for cancer research.
The gold medallist in question was former MP and current member of the House of Lords, Mr Sebastian Coe, and the trio hopping their way around the track were Fine Gael’s Mr Simon Coveney, PD Ms Fiona O’Malley and Independent Ms Mildred Fox.
The high temperatures led to a fair amount of huffing and puffing amongst the Irish competitors, although Lord Coe barely broke a sweat as they charged around, some taking things more seriously than others.
But despite the high jinks on the cricket pitch today’s event was about highlighting this year’s run on October 20th in over 80 locations around the State. This year the Society hopes to raise over €300,000 from the Terry Fox runs.
The Terry Fox Run is now the world’s largest single-day fundraiser for cancer research, having begun in 1980 when Terry Fox, who had lost his right leg to cancer, began a run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He died in 1981, aged 22, after completing almost two-thirds of his journey, around 3,339 miles.
Lord Coe said Terry Fox’s achievement would have been extraordinary even for an able-bodied athlete. He urged people to take part in a run, whatever their fitness level.
One in three Irish people will develop cancer, with almost 20,000 people diagnosed with the disease. Advances in cancer research has meant the survival rate has improved. This year, the Irish Cancer Society announced a 33 per cent rise in its allocation to research.