The Terry Fox Foundation (TFF) is pleased to announce a new board of directors

VANCOUVER, Aug. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - The Terry Fox Foundation hosted its Annual General Meeting where newly elected board members gathered for the first time.

At the meeting, the board of directors unanimously supported a resolution that expressed their genuine appreciation to Mr. Isadore Sharp for his dedicated service to the Marathon of Hope over the past 33 years. In recognition of his long term commitment to Terry's vision of eradicating cancer Mr. Sharp was elected to the new role of chairman emeritus to the Board.

Mr. Sharp was the first Canadian corporate leader to support Terry's courageous journey and was founder of the annual run.  The Marathon of Hope has raised more than half a billion dollars for cancer research. In the fall of 1980 after cancer forced Terry to return to Vancouver for treatment, Mr. Sharp proposed organizing an annual fundraising run named the "The Terry Fox Run".  He wrote in a telegram to Terry:  "The Marathon of Hope has just begun.  You started it.  We will not rest until your dream to find a cure is realized … your courage and determination has been an inspiration to us."

"Mr. Sharp's steadfast support for The Terry Fox Foundation, our volunteers, our donors and most of all, to each member of our family, from the very beginning has been a valuable and enormous contribution to the successful growth of the annual Terry Fox Run both across Canada and around the world", stated Judith Fox-Alder on behalf of the Fox family.

Terry's father Rolly and Terry's three siblings, Fred, Darrell and Judi are responsible for electing board members.  Further to this, the Fox family is delighted to announce the appointment of Bill Pristanski, Jim Gabel and Ara Sahakian to the TFF Board.

The addition of Bill, Jim and Ara to the Board marks an historic transition for the governance structure of the TFF.  "Terry's dreams and ambitions have been nourished and kept alive all these years by the dedication of his family and the ever-present advice of Mr. Sharp", remarked Bill Pristanski, incoming board Chair.  "Today the torch is being passed to a new group of passionate Terry Foxers.  We are indeed humbled by the responsibility and we take very seriously the stewardship of Terry's cause. While many Canadians can recall direct personal memories of Terry, there are new generations that only know the great inspirational story of his Marathon of Hope. As we accept this torch as new board members, we understand our role is to ensure that successive generations keep that story alive."

The newly elected board includes:

Jim Gabel, Toronto, is currently President of adidas Group Canada and long time supporter of The Terry Fox Foundation;

Bill Pristanski, Ottawa, has run in all 32 Terry Fox Runs and through the generosity of his family, friends and colleagues has raised nearly $400,000 for cancer research;

Ara Sahakian, Dubai, a Chartered Accountant and Chair of the organizing committee of the annual Terry Fox Run in Dubai that has so far raised $2 million for cancer research.

The board amended the bylaws to create two ex-officio directorship positions:

Vic Ling, Vancouver, the President and Scientific Director of the Terry Fox Research Institute; and

Rob Reid, Victoria, volunteer chair of the advisory committee working to establish the Terry Fox Centre in Vancouver, a permanent home for "all things Terry".

One of the board's first priorities is to recruit and hire a new executive director for The Terry Fox Foundation.

The thirty-third Terry Fox Run will take place across Canada at more than 800 community sites on September 15.  People are invited to run, walk, wheel, or ride up to ten kilometers and raise funds to be distributed by the Terry Fox Research Institute to researchers working to find cures for cancer.  There will be more than 8,000 school runs later that month.  The scheduling for the international sites of the Terry Fox Run are based on the unique schedules in each country around the world.

In 1980, Terry Fox ran 3,339 miles from St. John's Newfoundland to a place just east of Thunder Bay, Ontario.  He had run a marathon equivalent of 26 miles for 143 consecutive days and the Marathon of Hope raised $24 million (equal to one dollar for every Canadian at that time).  Terry was awarded the Companion of the Order of Canada and he is an inspiration to Canadians and people across the globe.

SOURCE: The Terry Fox Foundation

Fred Fox
Manager of Supporter Relations
The Terry Fox Foundation
Phone:  [phone]
Cell:  778-789-8135