A pilot project by the Terry Fox Foundation that started in B.C. two weeks ago has already reaped hundreds of dollars for the charity in the Port Coquitlam hero’s name.
Currently, there are seven tap donation machines around the Lower Mainland including at The Taphouse in Coquitlam and Cat & Fiddle Pub in Port Coquitlam.
Donors can use their debit or credit card to contribute $5, $10 or $20, with payments made directly to the foundation’s account through TipTap.
Foundation spokesperson Denise Dias told the Tri-City News the non-profit worked with TipTap to design the stations. Another 20 or so units are in businesses in Alberta and Ontario as part of the pilot project, which runs from July 1 to Aug. 30.
And the foundation is looking for more places to host the stations to fundraise for cancer research; the disease claimed Fox’s life in June 1981, less than a year after he stopped running across Canada for his Marathon of Hope fundraiser.
“We would like to explore working with our partners to host these stations longer-term or year-round to raise funds in support of cancer research,” Dias told the Tri-City News.
“The Terry Fox Foundation is continually looking for new ways to engage with our communities and raise funds for cancer research.”
“This pilot program is an opportunity to explore an easy, touchless technology to enable donations.”
RETURN-IT, CBC SHOW
Meanwhile, the Terry Fox Foundation is one of eight non-profit groups with Tri-City connections listed this month on Encorp’s Return-It charity site. The group with the most amount of votes receives a donation from the recycling business, for its cause.
The other local groups are the PoCo Community Foundation, Port Coquitlam Professional Firefighters Charitable Society, Kinsight Community Society, Port Moody Foundation, Share Family and Community Society, Access Youth Outreach Services and the Amanda Todd Legacy Society — the latter of which raises awareness about cyberbullying.
Also on the Terry Fox Foundation front, the organization is now embarking on a new project called the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network — a collaboration of the country’s top cancer researchers.
And on Monday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m., CBC TV and CBC Gem (stream via CBC.ca/TerryFox) will air a one-hour broadcast called Terry Fox: The Power of One.
It will feature musical performances by Alessia Cara, Tom Cochrane and William Prince and appearances by Canadian dignitaries and sports and entertainment legends such as Sidney Crosby, Rick Hansen, Rick Mercer, Catherine, Darryl Sittler, Hayley Wickenheiser and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to share Terry’s story in an exciting way that will encourage Canadians across the country to once again come together and cheer for Terry, honour his legacy and support his dream to cure cancer,” said Michael Mazza, the foundation's executive director, in a news release. “With one in two Canadians expected to battle cancer in their lifetime, the need for research has never been more urgent.”
Added Trudeau, in the release, “Terry Fox embodied and exemplified the Canadian spirit and remains a powerful example and force for good. His legacy continues to inspire millions of Canadians and our government is proud to support the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network, which will benefit every Canadian affected by cancer.”
Since it launched four decades ago, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised more than $850 million and funded 1,300 cancer research projects.
